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, N.Y. – The Oswego State Lakers women’s hockey team unofficially kicked off their newest campaign, welcoming St. John Fisher to The Deb for an exhibition match with the Cardinals on Saturday, Oct. 18.

Equal levels of competition were had throughout the first 20 minutes, as both squads came through blazing. The Lakers applied a heavy offensive attack that allowed for 20 shots on net in just the first period, although the Cardinal faithful stood tall; first-year goaltender Brynn Bacak fended off the flurry, and the first period concluded as scoreless.

Undisciplined play from the Cardinals in the second period proved to be costly, as the Lakers gained a man-advantage early on due to two penalty calls on the first-year program. The Lakers capitalized upon this opportunity, as they connected on the powerplay at 16:15, gaining a 1-0 advantage over the visiting squad.

The Lakers, with a sudden charge in momentum, continued to decimate the Cardinal attack. Seconds before the buzzer sounded, signaling the end of period two, Ohio native Lauren Ricobelli widened the score gap to two goals, as the freshman knocked in a tip to give the Lakers a comfortable 2-0 lead heading into the tunnel.

Coming into the final frame, the Cardinals were determined to make a conversion. The Lakers returned to full-strength after a 5-on-3 disadvantage, but the favor remained on the opposition’s side, as the Cardinals finally found the nylon, chipping away as they lessened the deficit.

The Lakers remained undeterred, though, as a faceoff win, courtesy of George Cunliffe, would allow the squad to take on a successful possession. First-year sniper Liliana Ficaro, in a sea of white and red jerseys, navigated to the puck, and slapped one past the blocker of Bacak. The Lakers then took a 3-1 advantage, and the defense would remain firm in the waning minutes of the concluding period, as the Lakers put the finishing touches on a 3-1 victory.

Before the Lakers get an official start on their season, they are set to take on Nazareth in one final exhibition outing at The Deb, on Saturday, Oct. 25. Puck drop is set for 3 p.m., on Teal Night.