Erica Mathewson, a starter and senior captain for the Syracuse women’s lacrosse team, quit the team last Thursday, head coach Lisa Miller said.

Mathewson could not be reached yesterday despite repeated attempts to her off-campus residence. The departure stemmed from a difference in opinion with Miller, said Dan Mathewson, Erica’s father.

“Erica had her opinion on how athletes should be treated and motivated,” Dan Mathewson said. “Coach Miller had her own opinion.

“It had nothing to do with performance or playing time. It was just the fact that they differed in opinion.”

Mathewson played in eight games this season, scoring five goals and five assists. Before skipping out on last Saturday’s game against Rutgers, she recorded a goal and an assist against Connecticut and tallied three points against Colgate.

Last year, Mathewson finished with 18 points as a backup. This year, though, she moved into a starting position on attack and was named a tri-captain along with Fran Amasia and Carrie Soults.

During SU’s most recent loss, a 10-9 decision against Rutgers, fifth-year senior Karen Healy replaced Mathewson up front and netted four goals. For the remainder of the season, Miller said, SU can move Healy from defense to attack or keep Healy on defense and rotate several younger players on offense.

“We have a couple freshmen who can step up and fill her place,” Miller said, noting Monica Joines and Courtney Palladino, who’ve combined for 10 points this season.

At least one of those first-year players will now move into the vacancy created by Mathewson, a fourth-year player from Syracuse who attended West Genesee High School.

Published on April 8, 2002 at 12:00 pm