One simple word can bring a smile to the faces of any National Lacrosse League team fighting for a playoff berth - Smash.

As in the winless and rather hapless Syracuse Smash, who traveled to Mellon Arena Saturday only to be promptly annihilated by a motivated CrosseFire squad, 21-9, in front of a season-high 6,140.

Exactly how bad are the 0-8 Smash? It took only nine seconds to find out.

Off the opening faceoff Pittsburgh's D'Arcy Berthiaume found a wide-open Gary Gait, leaving the NLL's leading scorer one-on-one with Syracuse goaltender Derek Collins.

The result was predictable. It was the CrosseFire's fastest goal of the season and the first of six goals for Gait, who extended his stranglehold on the league scoring lead.

And it was merely the beginning. The CrosseFire, coming off a two-week layoff following a disheartening 17-12 loss to Rochester, were in no mood to give the Smash any sort of margin for error. Matt Shearer and Paul Gait would add two more goals in the next 4:30 in what quickly became a rout. It was an impressive showing for a CrosseFire team that hadn't been in a game situation since the Rochester loss.

"We've had some good practices," CrosseFire coach John Tucker said. "The guys were looking forward to coming out and redeeming themselves. They're professionals."

Despite a two-week layoff, the CrosseFire resembled a team peaking for the playoffs, while Syracuse was playing like a team in a hurry to put away those ugly fluorescent purple and blue uniforms for the summer.

After one quarter it was 6-0. After two it was 12-3 and had degenerated into a fullblown romp. The CrosseFire built a 20-4 lead at one point, before giving up some cheap, late goals. Defense, not exactly a Pittsburgh staple, was key. Starting goaltender Devin Dalep posted 27 saves on the night, but the Smash rarely got good looks on goal.

"All we've been doing is practicing defense," Tucker said. "We know we're going to score goals. Defense is a big key for us."

The CrosseFire offense was in top form. Gait added three assists with his six goals, while brother Paul scored three goals and added five assists. Jesse Hubbard had six assists.

The win was nice, but merely a precursor to Friday's trip to Toronto to face defending NLL champion Toronto Rock, in a contest that may make or break Pittsburgh's playoff hopes. Now 6-4, Pittsburgh must win the 8 April season finale at Syracuse to have any shot at finishing among the top four teams and make the playoffs. A win over Toronto will nearly guarantee a playoff berth.

"I think if we beat Syracuse we'll probably get in," Tucker said. "But we know if we win two games we're definitely in."

The Crossefire now trail Philadelphia and Albany by a half-game for the final two playoff spots.

"Our goal is to win a championship," Gary Gait said. "To do that you've got to make the playoffs."

BOX SUMMARY
                                  1  2  3  4     TOT
Syracuse Smash (0-8)              0  3  1  5  --   9
Pittsburgh CrosseFire (6-4)       6  6  6  3  --  21

SYRACUSE SMASH                PITTSBURGH CROSSEFIRE
               G - A   PTS                   G - A   PTS

Individual stats currently unavailable.

Shots on goal           50    Shots on goal           58
Saves made by           37    Saves made by           41
   Cowie                         Dalep
   Collins                       Miller


*** ALL STATS UNOFFICIAL UNTIL VERIFIED ***