The Oswego State Lakers faced off against the Elmira Soaring Eagles, with both squads coming into this game looking for their first win of the new season. While Oswego is looking for a bounce-back win after being shut out by the Wilkes Colonels in their season opener, Elmira came into the game holding a 15-game losing streak that began back in the 2024 season. Needless to say, both teams came into this game hungry for a win.

The game started out gritty, with both sides boasting a total of 7 fouls combined within the first four minutes of playing time. However, back-to-back penalty corners for Oswego was able to get the action going early with Midfielder Carly King netting her first goal of her college career as well as the first goal of the new season for the Lakers with the goal being assisted by Madi Stuckart and Alexa Snyder. After striking hot early, scoring with 10:05 left in the first quarter, Oswego took its foot off the gas, allowing Elmira to outshoot them 5-3, a stellar goalie performance from 2024 Rookie of the Year Sam Krautheim; however kept the score at 1-0 heading into the second.

Elmira kept the momentum moving out of the break however, living in Oswego’s zone for several minutes until they finally broke the seal with Forward Caitlin Ehlenfield able to get one past Krautheim off of the rebound to tie it up at 1-1 with the goal being assisted by Nicole Luther. This complete swing of momentum seemed to light a fire under the Lakers as they proceeded to play with a vengeance for the rest of the quarter. Oswego proceeded to rack up 6 fouls, with even defenseman Heather Dent being ejected with three minutes left on the clock. Oswego also held a monopoly over shots and offense, staying almost exclusively on the Soaring Eagles’ side of the field the rest of the half.

Oswego kept up the barrage heading out of the 2nd half, taking back-to-back penalty corners and eventually scoring 3:30 into the half with Forward Ellie Kazel blasting it home for Oswego to take a 2-1 lead. After this lead change, Oswego and Elmira proceeded to exchange blows for the rest period, exchanging shots on net back and forth.

By the start of the fourth quarter, the defense had locked down on allowing shots for both sides. This, accompanied with players showing exhaustion after going all out for 45 minutes, resulted in a rather lackluster offensive fourth quarter with Elmira boasting only 3 shots while Oswego had 0.

Oswego was able to secure the victory in a 2-1 win over Elmira, giving them their first win on the season, while Elmira’s losing streak fell to 16 games. Oswego will be looking to go above .500 on their Senior Day, September 6th, against the Nazareth Golden Flyers. Elmira will look to finally break the curse on September 6th against the Gwynedd Mercy University Griffins.

Written By: Eric Palmeri

OSWEGO, NY – The Hamilton Continentals came into town to take on the Oswego State Lakers, looking to avenge a 3-2 home loss from early last season. They wasted no time getting started, with Brady Hyland netting the opening goal just 10 minutes into the first half, and giving Hamilton an early 1-0 lead.

Hamilton continued with a physical, no-nonsense style of play, as Aedan Burke picked up an early yellow card in the 24th minute, at which point they had already recorded 6 team fouls.

The Lakers eventually found their footing and applied some pressure, but Hamilton’s back line held strong, as the Continentals held the Lakers shotless through the first 45, and went into the halftime break ahead 1-0.

In the second half, The Lakers’ defense collapsed early, as the Continentals struck three times in the first 20 minutes, with Griffin Weidner ,Troy Miller, and Sean Curran all adding their names to the score sheet, extending Hamilton’s lead to 4-0. 

For the Lakers, sophomore goaltender Kyle Rose put on a clinic, recording 11 saves, but it simply wasn’t enough to counter the 15 shots on target that he faced from Hamilton. With a 4-0 loss vs Hamilton, the Lakers move to 0-1-1 on the season, and will head to Elmira this Saturday, still in search of their first goal of the season.

Written by: Mike Neckers

OSWEGO NY – Oswego welcomed Wilkes University out of Pennsylvania to kick off the 2025 season. After a physical and hard-fought game by both sides, Courtney Key would help Oswego pick up the first win of the 2025 campaign.

HOW IT HAPPENED 
Both teams were eager to get this first game going and that was evident as both teams shot out of a cannon to start the game. Nothing came easy in the early going as every ball was fought for and it was extremely physical.

Oswego was the first one to strike as they found the back of the net in the first 10 minutes of play. Off a corner kick was the veteran, Courtney Key, to find the back of the net at 9:34. The header would sneak over the stretched hand of the Wilkes goaltender, Ava Long. The corner was sent in by Amber McDermott. The Senior-to-Senior connection got the Lakers up 1-0 to kick off the 2025 season.

Just a few minutes later Oswego extended the lead. Key would again capitalize on a Laker corner. Key would slide across the box with an extremely athletic play to put Oswego up by 2. The assist would go to Kyla Sustad, the first of many for the junior.

It took a while for the Colonels to get back in this one. In the 33rd minute, Wilkes would finally get their foot in the door. Jess Shea found nylon off a corner kick from the Sophomore, Elena Krajain. It was 2-1 going into half in the season opener for the Lakers.
The first half energy seemed to dwindle during the break. The second half started out much slower. Both teams had opportunities, but each team had a scorching hot defense that wouldn’t let up.

Things shifted in the 33rd minute of the second period. A pass came from Kayla Baca and Schmitt did the rest. Schmitt would right foot it, and after a tip off the hand of Long, Schmitt found her first goal of the season. The lead was now 3-1 with the Lakers in complete control.

The Lakers would prevail after astounding success on the defensive side of the ball. Oswego wouldn’t pick up a save in this time period as the Colonels wouldn’t be able to get anything on goal. With a balanced attack through and through, the Lakers won the contest, 3-1.

WHAT’S NEXT
Oswego takes on the Knights of Geneseo on Tuesday. Oswego faces a challenge as the Knights had an impressive season in 2024 finishing 13-5-3. Kickoff will be at 4:00pm at Geneseo College Stadium.

Luke Belanger’s POTG – Courtney Key (2 goals on 4 shots) 

Written by: Luke Belanger

OSWEGO, NY – The Clarkson Golden Knights came into Oswego Friday night to meet the Lakers for the first time since 2001. The long awaited rematch turned out to be a defensive battle, with the final score resulting in a 0-0 draw.

Oswego’s sophomore goalkeeper Kyle Rose followed up his strong freshman year with a four save performance, while Clarkson’s Carter Kladstrup wasn’t as busy, stopping the one recorded shot on target he faced all night.

Photo: Oswego Men’s Soccer comes together before kickoff in preparation for the game. (Clay Kepler)

Discipline continued to haunt both clubs all night, with only Oswego being guilty of receiving cards. Felix Freed, Cole Mueller, Morgan Burke, and Kieran Husselbeck were each given yellow cards throughout the match.

These yellow cards for the Lakers matched their season high from last season, where they were given four of them in their first game of the SUNYAC tournament against Cortland, where their season came to an end.

The Lakers will continue to seek their first victory of their 2025 season Tuesday night at Laker Turf where they’ll host Hamilton, while Clarkson will do the same when they face St. John Fisher Sunday afternoon.

Written By: James Fitzpatrick