OSWEGO, NY — Men’s Lacrosse kicked off their season this past Sunday at home against Hartwick. The game that got moved from Saturday to Sunday due to weather featured a Laker win with a final score of 10-9. The Lakers took an early lead in the first quarter as Oswego was up 3-1 after the first 15 minutes of play. The Lakers would keep that lead the rest of the game as the team would score two or more goals every quarter to finish off the Hawks. The non-conference win was led by Kyle Bacon as the senior tallied five goals in the game. Senior Dan Doolan also had two goals and one assist in the victory. Netminder Kyle O’Donnell would save 24 shots and hold a .727 save percentage in between the pipes for Oswego.
Men’s Lacrosse will go on the road this Wednesday to face off against Alfred State for another non-conference game. Last year, the Lakers defeated the Saxons in Alfred 11-7 which ended their four game losing streak against Alfred. The Lakers will return home on March 14th to face off against St. John Fisher at 3 p.m. at Laker Stadium.
-
Sparks and Cook shine as Oswego men’s basketball defeats Clarkson to move to 3-0
OSWEGO, N.Y. — The Oswego State men’s basketball team continued their stellar start to the season on Tuesday, defeating Clarkson University 82-67 to move to 3-0 on the season. With this win, the Lakers extended their win streak versus Clarkson to six, dating back to 2015.
It was a close, scrappy game from whistle to whistle. Junior guard Kaleb Cook started the game off hot, scoring 13 points in the first half. Despite the strong defensive effort of the Golden Knights, Oswego went into halftime up 34-28. Five minutes into the second half, Oswego went up by double digits with buckets from Brendan Mulson (12), Jeremiah Sparks (10) and Julien Crittendon (10). Throughout the rest of the game, both teams traded baskets, which kept the game within reach for Clarkson. Though at the end or regulation, Oswego was able to prevent a comeback and win 82-67. Sparks finished the game with 18 points, 3 assists and 8 rebounds while Cook and Crittendon finished with 15 points apiece.
Oswego will look to carry this momentum into their next game against Nazareth College on Nov. 23 before their first SUNYAC game of the season the following week. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Max Ziel Gymnasium.
Photo provided by William Rogers, WTOP-10 photography department
-
Men’s Hockey opens preseason with win
OSWEGO, N.Y. – The Oswego State men’s hockey team took to home ice for the first time since they beat SUNY Cortland in the SUNYAC semi-final last season. A preseason matchup against the Stevenson Mustangs was an opportunity for both teams to get their legs underneath them before they start regular season play in two weeks time.
The first period saw senior Eric Green get the start in goal for the Lakers. Both sides would get shots off on net, but it would be the Mustangs who struck first in the game. Liam McCanney would send one five hole and into the back of the net for the first goal of the season with just under 11 minutes remaining. The Lakers would quickly answer though. A pass from Quinn Warmuth toward the slot, would be deflected in by Tyler Flack for the Lakers first goal with just over nine to go in the period.
The second period was a goalie battle. The Lakers would switch goalies, junior Richie Parent becoming the Lakers net minder in the second period. Parent made a few excellent saves, and showed off his stick handling abilities as a goalie. Stevenson made their goalie change halfway through the second period. All three goalies that played in the period didn’t allow a goal, and the sides went into the second intermission still tied at one.
In the third period, the Lakers gave their third goalie on the roster, new freshman recruit Cal Schell, his first opportunity wearing the green in gold on the ice. Just as Richie Parent had in the second period, he didn’t allow the Mustangs to get one past him, but the Lakers got themselves the lead. Their second goal came less than three minutes in. Coming off a faceoff, a pass went back to Quinn Warmuth in also the same spot as last time by the blue line. He again threw it into the slot, and the puck would go off the skate of Conor Smart and into the back of the net. Oswego’s final goal would come late in the third. Just as Stevenson was pulling their goalie to have a 6-5 and try and tie the game, the Lakers would have a two-on-one opportunity. New transfer Thomas Rocco would pass the puck behind the lone defender to Tyler Flack who just tapped it into the empty net for the game sealing third and final goal.
The Lakers walked away with a victory 3-1 showing good promise before the challenging season ahead. They will play one final preseason game before the start of regular season play. A matchup with Carelton Place of the CCHL on Saturday October, 22 in the Deborah F. Stanley Ice Arena.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHELLE QUIACHON, WTOP10 PHOTOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT
-
Sean Eccles named interim head coach of Oswego Men’s lacrosse team
OSWEGO, N.Y. — Following Coach Drew Bezek’s recent departure from the Oswego men’s lacrosse program, the Department of Athletics announced that Sean Eccles has been elevated to Interim Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach on Tuesday.
With this hiring, Eccles becomes the sixth acting head coach in the program’s history. After a stint as offensive coordinator at Georgian Court University (New Jersey), an NCAA Division II school, Eccles now travels to Oswego, not too far from his hometown of Syracuse.
The newly elevated coach will have the honor of coaching his younger brother, Ryan Eccles, who played his first season with the Lakers in the 2021. In six games, Ryan totaled two goals and one assist as a freshman midfielder. With their connection, we could see an increased offensive role for Ryan in the 2022 season.
Before coaching, Eccles was a decorated athlete with multiple collegiate and professional lacrosse honors. Eccles was a two-year captain at UAlbany, earning two second team all-conference honors in his tenure there. During his time with the Great Danes, Eccles totaled 83 goals and 28 assists while leading the team to the NCAA Division I National Championship Final Four in 2018. Eccles is also a former Major League Lacrosse (MLL) professional, being drafted 11th overall by the Denver Outlaws in 2019 MLL draft. Following his time with the team, Eccles served as the offensive coordinator for the Albany Academy Preparatory School team in spring 2020.
The Oswego men’s lacrosse team is coming off their worst season in program history as they were winless (0-7) for the first time. Now with an influx of recruits and the hiring of Coach Eccles, the Lakers will look to bounce back from their previous season and aim for their first SUNYAC Championship appearance since 2019.
Photo provided by Oswego State Athletics Department
