OSWEGO, NY — Wednesday evening, the Empire 8 Conference announced the cancellation of their fall sports for the Fall 2020 season. This unanimous decision came due to concerns of COVID-19 and the safety of student athletes. The sports that will be canceled are cross country, field hockey, football, men’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s tennis, and women’s volleyball. The conference has come out and stated that these sports will be given the opportunity to place in the Spring 2021 season if COVID-19 is less of a threat.
Although a majority of the Oswego State teams compete in the SUNYAC conference, Men’s golf is one of the few sports that is in the Empire 8 Conference. Oswego is an affiliate member of the conference, as the SUNYAC does not have a Men’s Golf Championship. The Lakers compete against Utica College, St. John Fisher College, Sage College, Elmira College, and Nazareth College in the Men’s Golf Championship. With the team playing half of their tournament in the fall, and half in the spring, the cancellation will affect the team for a portion of their season as of right now. Wresting is the only other Oswego State team in the Empire 8 conference.
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Oswego State Softball Looks to Rebound After Geneseo
GENESEO, N.Y.– The Oswego State Lakers Softball team went into Geneseo on Friday to look for revenge after being swept on their homefield just a few weeks ago. It was all Geneseo though in the doubleheader today as they shut out the Lakers 7-0 in the first game and 6-0 in the second matchup of the day. The Lakers fall to 5-7 on the season and currently sit in third place in the SUNYAC West standings with a conference record of 4-6 after Friday’s results.
Holding the Lakers scoreless in the first game was Knights pitcher Nicole Schwartz who only allowed 6 hits the entire contest and still remains perfect at 5-0 this season at the mound. The Knights were able to jump out early with three different RBI’s which led to 5 runs in the second inning that would eventually seal the fate of Oswego State in the first game. Moving on to the second matchup of the day, once again it was Geneseo’s offense striking early. With three runs scored by the Knights in the first inning as well as two in the third and one in the 5th to cap off a 6-0 shutout in game two. As for Geneseo, they improve to 9-4 on the season and remain at the top of the SUNYAC West division. The Knights will have a little under a week off with their next contest not until Wednesday at SUNY Brockport.
Looking on from this contest the Lakers will look to rebound on a quick turn around as they face off against the Buffalo State Bengals today at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. at Laker Softball Field. Oswego State was able to sweep the last doubleheader against the Bengals with final scores of 8-5 and 9-7. Tune in today to watch the Lakers attempt to rebound with a doubleheader against Buffalo State and you can watch all the action on WTOP 10.
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Oswego State baseball wins biggest series of Year
OSWEGO N.Y. — The biggest and most anticipated series of the season finally came for the Lakers. The #5 ranked Cortland Red Dragons travelled up 1-81 to take on the Lakers at the Laker Baseball Stadium. The three game set started with game one Friday afternoon, and games two and three Saturday.
Game one started fast, with the Red Dragons finding the scoreboard in the top off the first inning. A lead off single, was then moved to second on a sac bunt. The runner would score on an ensuing single, and the Red Dragons took an early 1-0 lead. In the top of the third the Red Dragons struck again. A lead off double would move to third on a pass ball in the next at bat. After a foul out, a fly out to center would be deep enough to score the runner and Cortland took a 2-0 lead. It was the bottom of the third when the Lakers finally struck. Paul Tammaro led off with a triple. Ryan Enos‘s double drove him home for the Lakers first run. After a strike out, Lukas Olsson hit a two run home-run to give the Lakers a 3-2 lead. After a scoreless fourth and fifth, the Red Dragons found the scoreboard again in the sixth. They crossed the plate three times, but the Lakers weren’t letting them keep it for long. A Ryan Weiss lead off homer got the scoring starting in the bottom of the sixth. Julian Drew then got hit by a pitch. Two groundouts moved Drew to third and he was brought home by a wild pitch. After a walk and a bunt single, Ryan Enos drove home the sixth run on a single to center. Cortland tied it a six in the top of the seventh. It took until the top of the tenth for any runs to be scored. A lead off single moved to second on a sac bunt. A double drove him home, and Cortland grabbed a 7-6 lead. In the top of the tenth, Frank Levanti reached on an error to start the inning. Paul Tammaro moved him to second on a sac bunt. A Ryan Enos walk put runners on first and second. Kyle Lauria grounded into a fielder’s choice putting runners at first and third for Lukas Olsson. Olsson walked it off with a three run bomb, Oswego winning 9-7. Paul Tammaro and Lukas Olsson led the team with three hits each. Olsson also led the team with 5 RBIs. Jacob Sanders got the start for the Lakers, throwing 5 innings, allowing five runs, four earned, on seven hits and two walks, striking out three.
Game two of the series started just like the first, Cortland finding the scoreboard first. The first two batter of the inning would groundout, but three two-out singles brought home the first run of the game. Oswego answered right away. The first three batters for Oswego reached, loading the bases. A Lukas Olsson single brought home the first run for the Lakers, and the next at bat Ryan Weiss would clear the bases with a grand slam giving the Lakers a 5-1 lead after one. Cortland fought back in the second. The lead-off hitter reached on an error, and a home run in the next at bat brought the lead down to 5-3. In the bottom of the second, the first two batters would reach for Oswego. A Kyle Lauria single brought home the sixth run for the Lakers. After Lukas Olsson was intentionally walked, a passed ball brought home the seventh run. A few batters later, another passed ball brought home the final run if the inning for the Lakers. Cortland kept the pressure up in the third. A one-out grand slam brought the deficit down to 8-7. After all the fireworks of the first few frames, no runs were scored after the top of the third, and the Lakers won the seven inning game one of the double header. Paul Tammaro led the Lakers in hits, going 4-4 and scoring two runs. Ryan Weiss‘s four RBIs were enough to lead the Lakers. Kyle Finnegan got the start for Oswego, going 5.1 innings. He allowed eight runs, seven earned, on eight hits and two walks, striking out two. He was relieved by Ben Wilcox who pitched the final 1.2 innings allowing one hit and striking out three.
The final game of the series had the Lakers looking for their brooms going for the sweep. Unlike the previous two games, the first run wasn’t scored until the bottom of the fifth inning. Tim Shinto was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. He would score in the next at bat on a series of errors by Cortland. Two consecutive walks would load the bases for Kyle Lauria who would also walk, to bringing home the second run. Lukas Olsson would follow the third consecutive walk with a grand slam, giving the Lakers a 6-0 lead. Cortland found their stride in the top of the sixth, bringing home four runs. Oswego scored two in the bottom of the sixth to extend the lead to 8-4. A scoreless seventh and eight led to the top of the ninth. A lead-off walk was followed by a two run homer, bringing the lead down to 8-6. Three straight walks, loaded the bases, and a wild pitch brought home the seventh run, with still no outs. Another walk reloaded the bases, before the Lakers finally got the first out on a strike out. A passed ball allowed the another runner to score, tying the game. A another strike out, was followed by a single, bringing home two, and Cortland took the lead 10-8. Oswego got two runners on base in the bottom of the ninth, but couldn’t get them across the plate, and the late rally by Cortland getting them the win and avoiding a sweep. Three Lakers tied for the lead in hits with 2. Lukas Olsson led the way with six RBIs. Anthony Van Fossen got the start on the mound for Oswego. He pitched 5.2 innings, allowing four runs, all earned, on seven hits and no walks, striking out three.
The Lakers are now 24-8 (13-2 SUNYAC). Oswego has four games left this season, a mid-week matchup with #20 St. John Fisher at home, and final three game set with the Fredonia Blue Devils in Fredonia next weekend. As of May 3, the Lakers climbed up to #14 in the country, and Cortland fell to #13 after the losses to the Lakers.
IMAGE COURTESY OF OSWEGO ATHLETICS
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Team Spotlight: Oswego State Men’s Soccer
OSWEGO, NY — The Oswego State Men’s Soccer team, a squad surrounded by a lengthy but rather disappointing history in terms of success, has recently been on the upswing the past couple of years. This due to the arrival of Head Coach Dan Kane, who took over the Lakers heading into the 2017 season. A program that has transferred from being a doormat for the SUNYAC to a championship hopeful which showed just a year ago. The 9-7-2 team lost to SUNY Cortland in penalty kicks, a once nationally ranked team, in the opening round of the SUNYAC tournament. The squad’s first appearance in the bracket since 2014 was another step in the right direction for the Lakers.
The obvious common problem teams face across the nation comes down to retention of progress gained over the course of more than one season. For Kane’s Lakers, the group realized quickly what was expected of them before heading home last semester.
“The team realized that we got to make some advances individually and collectively,” Kane stated, “if we are going to sustain our kind of progression from the last few years.”
Of course, the return to Oswego has been much different for a team that usually starts games before the start of September. Kane spoke on the lack of team practices has made team cohesion difficult, something the head coach wished the group had similar to previous years. However, Kane found a positive in the situation as the coach touched on how this difference gave him the ability to work on a different subject, the incoming Class of 2024.
“We are way further along in terms of getting to know them as people because we have been having so many calls with them.” Kane said, “I know our freshman a lot better than I normally would which I am really thankful for.”
The push to the potential spring season gives the new members of the squad an opportunity to gain maturity before their first steps onto the Laker Turf. Kane explained the “grind of college and of the season catches up” and often saw regression through the course of a season from his first-year athletes because of this. Coach continued about his envy towards spring sports due to this trend, that may now be able to be tapped into due to this uncommon season.
Another plus for these Lakers is the return of the backline and starting goaltender Brian Terra. The defensive core that held conference opponents to an average of less than a goal last season will continue to be the backbone for the Lakers success. A defensive strategy that Kane plans to build on to improve the game at the other end of the pitch.
“It is going to look different.” Kane expressed, “[We] are going to play a bit differently but the more you can rely on your defense to win individual battles, the more freedom it gives our attacking players to take some chances and be creative and get more numbers forward.”
For now, the Lakers will have to remain on the sidelines before kicking off their season after the end of the calendar year. A group that got a taste of soccer together one week ago at their first team practice on the Laker Turf. The torrential downpour of rain did not take off the smiles that were found on every student athlete.
“We were in small pods.” Kane continued, “the energy and the positivity at practice was amazing. They were loving it.”
However, the Lakers will not be able to continue preparation for the 2021 season until next semester after the postponement of Athletics due to the recent spike of COVID-19. This added set pack could put the group at a disadvantage compared to other SUNY institutions across the conference, but Kane is taking a different look at the situation.
“To all the teams that are practicing, I wish them well.” Kane stated, “we hope to be back there soon in January, and we will make the most of the time we are given. We are not going to be the team that has excuses like that.”
For this team, the optimism shines from the head of the program. The Lakers seem to be in good hands heading into the most unusual season in sports history. Kane acknowledged the adversity that lies in front of the group but told his athletes to stay committed to the process.
“This is no question a time of adversity, so what kind of growth can we have in these moments and the second thing is even though we are not able to be together in a normal sense, we still have to be for each other.” Kane continued, “Those are kind of the two biggest messages, stay present and be there for each other. When the referee does blow that first whistle and lets us play, we will be ready for that moment.”
Photo Provided by Oswego State Athletics
