Gary Gait has talked about draw controls all season. His Syracuse team has struggled throughout much of the year, and he saw a correlation between the team’s record and its inability to win the draw.

In Syracuse’s 13-9 win over Cornell Tuesday, draw controls and offensive firepower went hand in hand once again. Syracuse’s plus-eight differential in draw controls in the first half propelled it to a 6-0 lead in the first 15 minutes.

And Becca and Linley Block were two of the main catalysts for SU’s success in draw controls. The twins combined to win three draw controls on the day, all of which came during that first offensive run.

‘In that first 15 minutes, the ball was in their stick and they were making plays that really helped on the draw control,’ Gait said.

When Syracuse was able to control the draw, it was able to control the game. SU dominated the opening minutes of play as it won the first three draws of the game. Each of those wins led to a goal.

After scoring six unanswered goals to start the game, Syracuse’s offense faltered a bit when it couldn’t win the draw controls. The Orange had won every draw prior to the Big Red winning its first with 8:15 left in the first half. Cornell went on to score four straight goals, cutting Syracuse’s six-goal lead to make the game 8-7.

But SU stopped Cornell’s run by winning a draw minutes into the second half, shifting play back in favor of the Orange and putting the game away.

Attack Alyssa Murray, who led the team with four draw controls, said starting off plays by winning the draw gives a team the momentum.

Murray also said the key for controlling the start of each play was how well the players on the circle were able to work together. Earlier in the season, SU’s younger players did not mesh in a way that helped them win draws.

‘We’ve really tried hard to pick that up during the rest of the season, and I think it’s just finally coming together,’ Murray said. ‘So it’s really based off of communication that we’re being more successful.’

One difference that propelled SU to additional success in the draw Tuesday was the success of the Block twins early on. Becca has 19 draw controls so far this season, and Linley has six. Although Murray leads the team with 28, Gait said the Blocks have been instrumental in the team’s recent success in draws.

‘Linley and Becca Block are really starting to mature on the draw circle,’ Gait said. ‘They’re really starting to understand where the ball’s going, how to read the draw person, and I think it showed today.’

To maintain strength around the draw circle beyond the first stretch of the game — something SU didn’t do effectively Tuesday — is a matter of focus, Gait said. He was happy with how the team started the game, but Syracuse let down a little toward the end of the first half.

Although the progress with draw controls was apparent, Gait is still looking for a more complete performance from his team.

‘You’ve got to stay focused for 60 minutes,’ Gait said. ‘When you’re playing well, you can’t relax.’

The Orange has had trouble holding leads all season. But even as Cornell chipped away at SU’s lead — after winning seven of 10 draw controls in the second half — the Big Red never tied the game.

Goaltender Liz Hogan said although the team was not always as focused as it had been in its dominant first 15 minutes, the Orange was never shaken by Cornell. Though SU attack Michelle Tumolo said the near-collapse was a little disconcerting, Hogan thought the team maintained composure.

‘If you feel rattled, you’re probably going to give it up,’ Hogan said. ‘For the most part, a lot of people on our team have confidence that the attacks are going to do what they’re going to do. They’re going to put the ball in the back of the net. And our defense is going to come up with the stop.’

alguggen@syr.edu