Bridget Daley’s injury came at a tough time for Syracuse. The Orange just completed its second game in a span of three days. SU had only one day to prepare for play without a starting midfielder.

Fortunately for Syracuse, depth is far from an issue. The Orange has seven players with at least 10 goals this season. Two of those seven are backup midfielders.

‘(The depth’s) been critical,’ SU head coach Gary Gait said. ‘We’ve had players that have been playing all year step up with that extra time that’s available without her in the lineup.’

No. 2 Syracuse (11-2, 4-0 Big East) will likely be without Daley for the fourth straight game Friday when it takes on Louisville (3-10, 1-5 Big East) at 5 p.m. on the road. Filling her spot in the starting lineup will likely be Sarah Holden, with Gabby Jaquith occupying key minutes off the bench.

Holden has no problem with not having a true home on the lacrosse field. The senior began the season as a midfielder expected to add some veteran leadership to a youthful attack. But when Kailah Kempney injured her knee against Northwestern, Holden shifted to attack as the team won the first three games of what is now a 10-game winning streak.

When Kempney returned to the lineup against Harvard, Holden returned to her role as a reserve midfielder.

Then Daley got hurt. Holden again stepped into the starting lineup.

‘Last year, I kind of played a similar role, and it’s just great knowing that I can just be an asset wherever I’m needed, I guess,’ Holden said. ‘And the coaches see that as well.’

Daley missed her third straight game Tuesday against No. 13 Cornell. With the midfielder absent from the starting lineup, Holden has gotten a chance to shine in a starting role, as has Jaquith with an expanded role herself. The midfielders have combined for eight goals and four assists in three games without Daley as Syracuse has ascended to become the nation’s top team in terms of RPI.

Before the three games without Daley, Jaquith had just seven goals while lost in the shuffle of a deep SU offense. With three goals in her last three games, the freshman is becoming increasingly comfortable with her role in the offense.

‘We’re starting to build a lot more chemistry,’ Jaquith said. ‘… We’re definitely starting to jell a lot more on the field, and everyone pretty much knows how everyone else plays.’

Holden and Jaquith both add a different skill set on the field than Daley provided. Daley’s greatest asset is her defensive presence in the midfield. The sophomore has corralled 11 ground balls this season, and her five caused turnovers tie her for the fourth-highest on the team.

Holden and Jaquith, on the other hand, are more offensive-minded midfielders. Holden scored the second-most goals on the team during her junior season and has scored 16 this season. Jaquith has added 10 of her own, plus five assists, while playing in all 13 games.

‘I think what me and Sarah add is a little more dynamic with dodging and definitely feeding,’ Jaquith said. ‘My main thing is that I like to feed, so that’s something I like to do a lot.’

Daley’s injury is the second major one the Orange has dealt with this season. In both instances, players have played key minutes at new positions.

But it’s more than just getting time in new roles. Jaquith is getting more playing time than she anticipated for her freshman year. After some growing pains to start the season, Jaquith has improved exponentially with additional playing time.

The team may be hurting with Daley out now, but it could reap the benefits of a more comfortable bench come May.

‘The more depth you have, the better you are,’ Gait said. ‘Who knows what could happen. We’ve been missing players all year. … It’s never going to be a perfect lineup, and the depth will be critical. The more experience we have, the better we’ll be in playoff time.’

dbwilson@syr.edu