MORRISVILLE, NY — The Oswego State Women’s Lacrosse Team won their first game of the 2021 season, defeating SUNY Morrisville 20-14. This was the first game for the Lakers in over a year due to the pandemic and they started their season off strong with a hard fought road victory. Sophomore midfielder Sela Wiley set the tone early, scoring Oswego’s first goal less than three minutes into the game. After going down 6-3 midway through the 1st period, junior attack Logan Castiglione scored back-to-back goals to cut the deficit to one. Following a quick Mustang goal, the Lakers would score six consecutive points heading into the second period, before going on multiple scoring runs to put the game out of reach.
Sela Wiley lead the Lakers in points, scoring 7 goals on 10 shots, while Logan Castiglione scored 5 goals on 8 shots. Midfielders Shae McConnell (4), Isabella Lembo (3), and attack Kamryn Sherman (1) each added goals of their own. Junior Goalkeeper Delaney Kendrick also had two saves in the win. Following today’s victory, the Oswego Women’s Lacrosse Team remains undefeated versus Morrisville, bringing their all time record to 11-0. The Lakers are now 1-0 on the season as they turn their attention to their first game in conference play on March 27th at SUNY Brockport.
Image Provided by Oswego State Athletics
-
Oswego State Softball Splits with Golden Eagles
BROCKPORT, N.Y. — The Oswego State Softball team traveled to Brockport on Saturday eager for a doubleheader against the Golden Eagles. It was a tough go around for the Lakers this time as they split the double header (1-1) as well as the overall series this season (2-2). Brockport would take the first game in dominant fashion with a 8-1 victory and Oswego would edge the Golden Eagles in a last inning thriller with a final of 7-6.
The first game was all Brockport with 4 runs in the 3rd inning alone and up 5-0 by the third inning. It was pretty straight forward for the Golden Eagles, generating 8 hits and putting in 8 runs in the first matchup with 2nd baseman Cameryn Duggan leading the way with 3 runs of her own. Oswego’s Taylor Dubois was the only Laker to generate a run as she hit a homerun and now has 3 on her career as a Laker. As for the second game, the Lakers jumped ahead early being up 4-0 in the second inning. The Lakers were led by Fiona Higgins and Tai Smith who each had three hits a piece in the second game. Things got extra interesting at the end of the second game as Brockport has the bases loaded with zero outs when trailing 7-5. However, Oswego was able to keep the Golden Eagles partially at bay with a force out at home, a throwout on an RBI-single as well as a fly out to end the game.
The Lakers now move to 7-11 on the season as well as 5-9 in the division, Brockport now remains at .500 winning percentage in both the SUNYAC West as well as overall as they remain at 6-6. The Lakers look to test their strength in their next matchup against the red hot Cortland Red Dragons who are coming in on a six game winning streak and have beaten the Lakers in the last four matchups. First pitch is scheduled for Monday, May 3rd at 3:00 p.m and WTOP 10 will be covering the game as well.
Image Provided by Erin Blank, WTOP 10 Photography Department
-
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
-
Oswego State men’s hockey splits weekend in SUNYAC play
OSWEGO, N.Y. — The Oswego State men’s hockey team had another jam packed weekend with two conference games against Brockport and Geneseo. Heading into the games, Oswego was coming off a 2-1 win over the Cortland Red Dragons. The Lakers would extend their win streak Friday night on the road in Rochester at the Tuttle North Arena against the Golden Eagles. The Brockport team came into the contest with an overall record of 5-0 and receiving 24 votes in the USCHO Division III poll. Trent Grimshaw would strike first for the Lakers on the powerplay to give Oswego it’s first goal in the first period this season. The goal came 14:46 minutes into the period and was assisted by team points leader Connor Sleeth and defenseman Ben Addison. Oswego would add another power play goal in the second period off the stick of Rocco Andreacchi. The Lakers would complete the contest going 2/5 with the man advantage and Addison and Grimshaw would get credited with the assists on the goal. Brockport would answer during 4 on 4 hockey later in the period but would not be able to finish the comeback before the final buzzer sounded. Oswego netminder Steven Kozikoski would get the win in between the pipes and made 30 saves over the course of the contest.
The Lakers would head back to the Deborah F. Stanley Arena and set their sights on the number one ranked team in the nation, the Geneseo Ice Knights. These two teams faced off for the first time since the 2019-20 SUNYAC Championship game and Geneseo found themselves in a similar situation at the end of the contest. The Lakers would fall 6-1 to the Ice Knights, their fourth straight loss against the team. Geneseo would tally four goals in the first period, three of those against Kozikoski before the junior got pulled by head coach Ed Gosek. Eric Green would finish the contest for the Lakers. The junior goaltender also gave up three goals against making eight saves in between the pipes. The Lakers would win the shot battle 23 to 17 but would only be able to put one puck past Geneseo netminder Matt Petizian. Alex DiCarlo would ruin the shutout in the third period to find his third goal of the season.
After this weekend, Oswego remains towards the top of the SUNYAC conference with a record of 3-0-1-0-1 and 10 points. Geneseo remains at the top with 13 points and four wins and one tie. Plattsburgh State and Brockport along with Cortland all remain close behind the Lakers heading into Thanksgiving Break. Oswego will take this weekend off from conference play and head to Williamstown, Massachusetts to take on Williams College. Games are scheduled for Friday night and Saturday afternoon as the Lakers look to improve their overall record. WTOP 10 will continue to provide coverage of the Oswego State men’s hockey team as the group continues their 2021-22 season.
Image Provided by Shelby Peplowski, WTOP 10 Photography Department
Graphic Provided by SUNYAC Conference
