OSWEGO, NY — As playoffs are upon us at SUNY Oswego for both the Men’s and Women’s Hockey teams, this week has been a challenge for both along with other groups that call the Marano Campus Center Ice Rink their home. Tuesday Evening, reports from individuals that cover both teams like Ben Grieco, from the Oswegonian, tweeted about the ice chilling system failing at the ice rink. The compressor in the system broke, resulting in the ice surface beginning to melt. Wednesday morning, the ice crew began removing the ice due to the ice melting. Currently, all that lies in the rink is the concrete bottom as we wait for updates on the situation. This problem has many implications, as teams are starting to prepare for this weekend’s playoff games.
Women’s Hockey is set to host Morrisville on Saturday for the first round of the NEWHL playoffs. Puck drop is set for 3 p.m. as the two seed is looking to secure a win, a most likely move on to play Plattsburgh in the finals. Men’s Hockey is supposed to host the highest remaining seed as quarter final games are being played on Wednesday. This game is set to play at 7 p.m. from the Marano Campus Center. Due to the current standing of the rink, these games may get moved to a new location so that games can be played at the correct times. Although all of this is not confirmed yet, Oswego Athletics has begun looking at possible options for these games, most likely being a place in Syracuse that has the capacity for two college games.
Even though both of these teams are affected the most from this problem, other teams are feeling the results. The D1 ACHA Hockey team has had to move practices to a new location as the team is preparing for their playoffs this weekend in Buffalo. The Women’s Club team has also had to cancel practice for this week.
To have constant updates on the situation in the Marano Campus Center, head over to @WTOP10Sports on Twitter. WTOP10 will have broadcasts of both games if they will still be played in MCC.
Images from Nicole Hube (@Nicole_Hube) and 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
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Oswego State Softball Team Prepares For Doubleheader versus New Paltz
OSWEGO, N.Y — The Oswego State Softball team will look to bounce back from their most recent defeat to Buffalo State as they take on the New Paltz Hawks on April 27th. They’ll compete in back-to-back games at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 pm for a non-conference doubleheader. The Lakers are currently on a four game losing streak heading into the pair of games.
Both the Lakers and Hawks come into Tuesday’s matchup with losing records and are desperate for a late season sweep. Oswego is 5-9 which includes a pair of shutouts to SUNY Geneseo and Buffalo State on April 23rd. While New Paltz won their last game vs. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, they went 2-9 in their previous eleven games this season. The Lakers will be lead by junior 1st baseman, Zoe Menning, in Tuesday’s doubleheader. She leads the team in at-bats (45), hits (23), and home runs (3). She also bats a .511 average, which is the highest on the team. Oswego will have to get solid performances out of their talented pitching bullpen to ensure a victory. Madison Hoeflich has a 2.40 ERA and is 3-3 as the Lakers starting pitcher. While sophomore Fiona Higgins has a bit higher of an ERA (4.32), she leads the team in strikeouts with 33. This could be a high scoring contest if Oswego is able to capitalize on New Paltz’s poor pitching. The Hawks bullpen averages a 5.75 ERA and have given up a combined 107 hits this season.
Oswego is in “win now” mode and Tuesday’s doubleheader could change around their 2021 season. WTOP 10 will be at Laker Softball Field for the doubleheader.
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Oswego womens soccer continues to dominate with win over Potsdam
OSWEGO, N.Y. – It was another day at the office for the Lakers as they tool it to the Potsdam Bears from start to finish. The Lakers came out swinging early and did not take their foot off the gas the whole game. Freshman Briana Winkler put the Lakers on the board early as she has made a huge impact on the team in her first year as a Laker. From there it was a bit of a back and forth battle until the end of the half. The second half is where things picked up for the Lakers as Katie Delgrosso put the Lakers up 2-0. With five goals on the season already, Delgrosso has been on an absolute tear. Potsdam just couldn’t do anything to halt the Lakers momentum as Lexi Thompson scored the third and final goal of the game for the Lakers, putting the contest away. The Lakers outshot the Bears 17-6 putting on an offensive clinic. The Lakers look to keep the hot streak rolling as they travel to Geneseo to take on the nights in a SUNYAC matchup this Wednesday. Game starts at 4pm.IMAGE PROVIDED BY OSWEGO ATHLETICS
