OSWEGO, NY — On Monday, January 6th, United States College Hockey Online released the first national rankings of the new year for Men’s Hockey Division III. Oswego State continues to move down the list as the Lakers sit ranked 15th receiving 35 points after slotting in 10th previously. The 7-5-0 team is currently on a two game losing streak after dropping games to Saint Mary’s and #9 University of New England. The Saint Mary’s University Cardinals received votes for the first time this season after upsetting both Oswego State and Williams College, who moved up one spot to #13 this poll.
Upcoming opponent Utica College moved inside the top 10 as they are currently ranked 7th with an overall record of 9-2-2. The Pioneers travel into Oswego this Friday after recently traveling to Michigan to play #12 Adrian College. Utica came away with two overtime wins that weekend and a bump in the rankings.
Elmira College and SUNY Canton both receive votes once again as both teams travel into Oswego in the month of January. The 7-3-1 Elmira Soaring Eagles (6) recently came off a win against familiar opponent Plattsburgh 4-1. The Canton Roos (16) are 6-3-1 and also defeated the Cardinals 4-3 earlier in the season. Elmira faces off with Oswego this Saturday while Canton won’t play the Lakers till later in the month.
Geneseo moves up one ranking into the second spot after securing two wins this past weekend. The Knights also find themselves in second in the SUNYAC standings right behind the Lakers with a 5-1-1 conference record. The two teams meet up again on February 7th in the Marano Campus Center for a rematch as Geneseo took the first meeting 9-1 back in November.
The Lakers still have 13 regular season games left before the start of the SUNYACs. This second half of the season features multiple nationally ranked opponents along with multiple conference match ups that are important for Oswego to stay in first in the SUNYAC standings.
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SUNY Oswego suspends Athletic activities for remainder of Fall 2020 semester
OSWEGO, NY — On Sunday, September 13th, SUNY Oswego President Deborah Stanley released new guidelines and restrictions regarding on campus activity for the Fall 2020 semester. One of these restrictions regards Oswego State Athletics as the college announced in a campus wide email that all practices, meetings, workouts, and gatherings will be suspended for the remainder of the semester. Since August 31st, the fall sports of Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Field Hockey, and Men’s and Women’s Cross-Country teams have been conducting practices and team meetings. This past week, Men’s and Women’s Tennis started their “non-traditional” practice season. This coming week, Volleyball would have joined the spring sports teams of Softball, Baseball, and the Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse would have started their four-week practice period.
With this change in policy, winter sports teams will not be able to prepare for their season until January 1st, the date set by the SUNYAC conference back on July 20th. This developing situation will continued to be monitored by WTOP 10 as the 2020 calendar year wraps up.
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Lakers field hockey wins season finale
OSWEGO, N.Y. – The Oswego state field hockey team won their regular season finale over Morrisville on the Laker turf Wednesday. Oswego started out the contest strong offensively starting with a Kacie Simzer goal just over 2 minutes into the contest. The Lakers would receive several penalty corners following the goal in the first quarter. Oswego kept their foot on the gas through the rest of the first and had 7 shots in the first half compared to the mustangs 0. Kacie Simzer would quickly strike again for the Lakers, just over 2 minutes into the second quarter assisted by Megan Delaney. Oswego was able to keep the pressure on with several penalty corners. That eventually led to another goal at the 28 minute mark from Kacie Simzer who would get a hat trick on the day, recording her third goal of the afternoon with an assist from Kate Mcnally. Following another corner for the Lakers, Kate Mcnally was able to get one of her own scoring the fourth goal for the Lakers right before the end of the first half. The Lakers closed out the first half with a dominant performance, getting 20 shots off against the Mustangs. Oswego had 13 corners in the first half of play which allowed Oswego to hold a 4-0 lead at the half.Oswego would continue their high scoring affair through the start of the third quarter, adding another goa just 4 minutes into play by Kaitlyn Ahle assisted by Nancy Pagliaroli. The Lakers controlled the third quarter continuing to allow no opportunities for the Mustangs. Kaitlyn Mastracco was able to get in on the action and she scored the sixth goal on the day for the Lakers, scoring just over 3 minutes into the fourth quarter. Kacie Simzer would continue her great day recording her fourth goal of the afternoon with just under 10 minutes remaining in play. Simzer tied her career high for goals, and also tied the school record yet again. Oswego would finish the contest allowing 0 shots against Erica Scheblein and attempting 34 shots on offense.
The Lakers finished off their season with an 8-8 record, and also recorded their first SUNYAC win, giving them a 1-5 conference record on the year. Heather Moore finishes her final game as the Lakers coach with a win in a position she held for 6 seasons
PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHELLE QUIACHON, WTOP PHOTOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT
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Men’s Hockey sweeps biggest weekend of season
OSWEGO, N.Y. – The Oswego State men’s hockey team came into the weekend with one goal in mind, sweeping the weekend and clinching a SUNYAC regular season title. The had the advantage of both games being at home, but both opponents coming in had playoff aspirations of their own.
Game one of the weekend was against the Buffalo State Bengals. The Lakers quickly put themselves at a disadvantage, taking two penalties, and bing 5-on-3 for a bit, but ultimately killed both. It took about seven minutes for the first goal to find netting. Trent Grimshaw grabbed his fourth goal of the season to get the Lakers on the board, but Buffalo State quickly answered. A little more than a minute later, Joe Glamos tied the game for the Bengals. The game remained at ones for a while, but the Lakers grabbed the lead back. Ryan Bunka gave his team lead. Once again, the lead only lasted a little more than a minute, Joe Glamos again tying the game up. The score ties at two, both squads went to the locker room. Cal Schell had six saves for Oswego in the first, Liam Gross, for Buffalo State had 13.
In the second period, the game remained at 2-2 for almost the entire time. Buffalo took one penalty during the period, but killed it. It took until less than four minutes for the first goal of the second frame to happen. Ryan Dickinson giving the Lakers a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. With less than a minute to play in the frame Connor Gatto doubled the lead. Rocco Andreacchi and Shane Bull being credited with assists on both goals in the period, and Andreacchi getting his third of the game. Schell had another six saves in the period, Gross adding another 14.
The third period saw Trent Grimshaw continue his scoring ways. He would score twice getting his first collegiate hat-trick. His goals were split by one for Buffalo State. In the third, the Lakers had two power-play opportunities that they wouldn’t capitalize on. Oswego took the first game of the weekend, 7-3, and clinched at top-two seed in the playoffs. Ten different Lakers got a point in the game, five of them more than one. Schell ended the game with 17 saves, Gross had 38.
The final game of the Lakers regular season was Senior Night. The Lakers recognized all-their seniors in a post-game ceremony. The game was against the Fredonia Blue Devils. Once again the Lakers came out flying. Just past the six minute mark, Oswego found the scoreboard twice in 15 seconds. The first score came off the stick of Conor Smart. Quickly after the restart of play, it was Tommy Cahill giving Oswego a 2-0 lead. The Lakers weren’t done there though, Drake Semrad gave Oswego a 3-0 lead in the tenth minute of the first period. Alex DiCarlo wanted to be part of the scoring parade, scoring the Lakers fourth and final goal of the first period. Eight different Lakers got assists in the first. Cal Schell had eight saves in the first period, while Logan Dyck had 13.
The Blue Devils made a goalie switch in the second. Charles-Anthony Barbeau was put in net. The second period was Conor Smart‘s period. He scored the Lakers first two goals of the second, and scored his first collegiate hat-trick. Daniel Colabufo got himself one final goal of the regular season as well, in the third. Before the end of the period, Fredonia picked up a penalty, that would be impactful in the third. With a 7-0 lead going into the break, the Lakers looked good to secure their first regular season title since 2018-19, but still had one to go. Schell had seven saves in the second, Barbeau had 17.
Fredonia made another goalie switch in the third, giving Dalton Jerzak some game time in the final game. The penalty that carried through to the third quickly became impactful, Ben Addison getting his second goal of the season. Less than a minute later Garrett Clegg scored his first goal of the season, on his senior night. The rest of the game was scoreless and the Lakers walked away with a 9-0 victory and a SUNYAC regular season championship. Smart was the only Laker with multiple goals, but six Lakers got multiple assists, 11 total getting at least one assist. Schell finished the game with 20 saves, Jerzak had 16 saves in the third.
Oswego now awaits an opponent for the SUNYAC semi-final that will be played in Oswego, they will play the lowest remaining seed after the SUNYAC quarter-final games played on Wednesday night. The semi-final game will be played on Saturday at 7:00.
At the end of the regular season, Alex DiCarlo was the teams leading goal scorer with 12 throughout the season. Shane Bull was the team’s leading assist and point getter, with 18 assists and 27 points. Cal Schell finished the season with a 2.19 Goals Against Average and .924 save percentage.
IMAGE PROVIDED BY EMILY RUSINKO, WTOP10 PHOTOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT
