OSWEGO — Women’s Basketball beats the Morrisville Mustangs in the consolation game of the Max Ziel Women’s Basketball Tournament with a final score of 77-62. Senior Sydni Eure who tallied 27 points en route to the win. Ramatoulaye Sy would also net 27 points and tally 2 blocks. Oswego would secure the lead in the second quarter as they outscored the Mustangs 16-7. The Lakers move forward with an overall record of 1-2 and welcome SUNY Canton into the Max Ziel Gymnasium on Wednesday. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. and can be found right here on WTOP 10.
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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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Men’s soccer goes splits in D.C. tournament
OSWEGO N.Y. — The Oswego State men’s soccer team travelled down to Washington D.C. for a tournament over the weekend. The first game was their first challenge of the season, taking on #23 ranked Montclair State from Montclair, NJ. The Redhawks found the scoreboard first, a header from a corner kick just before the ten minute mark in the game. Three minutes later Montclair got a penalty kick, but a big save by goalkeeper Matt D’Arpino kept the game at 1-0. Three shots toward the end of the half by the Lakers wouldn’t find the back of the net and both sides headed to the half. D’Arpino recorded four saves in the first half, and Kyle Gehnrich led the team with four shots. The Lakers continued to fire shots on the Montclair goal in the second half, six in total, but none found netting, and the game ended 1-0. A total of five yellow cards were given out during the game, two for the Lakers and three for the Redhawks, as well as a whooping 24 fouls, 17 of them called on Montclair. D’Arpino finished the contest with six saves. Chris Smith led the team in shots on goal with two.
Game two was played on Sunday against Baruch College from New York City. A much better offensive outing for the Lakers. Just a minute into the contest Kyle Gehnrich found the back on the net for the Lakers first goal of the season. With 24 minutes to go in the half, a cross from Chris Smith found the head of Jason Wuytack got pass the goalie for the second goal of the game and Wuytack‘s first career goal. The Lakers third goal came at the 31:26 mark. The Lakers held the ball for three straight minutes prior to the goal, Kieran Gilroy tapping it in after a save. Oswego dominated the first half in shots 14-4. Ten minutes into the second half, Baruch pulled one back, heading in a cross. Just one minute later, the Lakers brought the deficit back to three, Kyle Gehnrich passed it into Chris Smith who won a one on one with the goalie bringing the score up to 4-1, the final score of the game. Oswego dominated the game, winning 23-7 in shots and 8-1 in corner kicks. Baruch players got the only two yellow cards on the game. Gehnrich and Smith each had two goal contributions in the game.
Oswego is now 1-1 on the season, with three games left before they open SUNYAC play. The Lakers next game comes against Hamilton college in Clinton, NY on Wednesday, September 7 at 4:30 P.M.
IMAGE COURTESY OF OSWEGO ATHLETICS
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Oswego State Softball Splits with Cortland Red Dragons
OSWEGO, N.Y. — On Tuesday, the Oswego State Softball team was able to bounce back in game two of the non-conference doubleheader to split with the Cortland Red Dragons. The Lakers were able to secure the 8-6 victory after falling in game one 5-2 to the top team in the SUNYAC East division. The team heads into their final doubleheader of the 2021 season with an 8-12 overall record and a 5-9 record in division play.
Game one started without offense till the top of the third when Cortland was able to get a run past the Oswego defense. The Lakers would answer in the bottom of the inning with their own run to keep pace with the Red Dragons. Cortland would add another in the fourth inning and pull away by the time the bottom of the 7th inning came around. Cortland was able to get five hits and two runs on pitcher Madison Hoeflich who was on the mound for the first five innings. Fiona Higgins would take over pitching duties in the sixth inning and was on the mound for three runs from the Red Dragons. Tia Smith and Higgins each had an RBI hit during the first contest. Senior Madelana Wrubel went 3-for-4 in the batting box to lead the Lakers.
Game two had a different start as both teams were able to get a run before starting the second inning. That second inning would feature multiple runs for both sides as Oswego would be able to pull ahead with six runs coming during the bottom of the inning. Senior Taylor DuBois would get a two RBI hit after Wrubel and Leah Czerwinski each hit singles to move the runners around the bases. Hoeflich would head back to the mound and pitched for over four innings which featured scoreless play from both sides. Oswego was able to come up with the victory with an insurance run being added in the bottom of the sixth inning. Czerwinski would lead the Lakers at the plate going 3-for-4 with two runs and a RBI.
The Lakers have a quick turnaround today as the group heads to Fredonia for a SUNYAC West doubleheader. This will be Oswego’s final two contests of the 2021 season after being eliminated for SUNYAC Championship contention a few weeks ago. The Blue Devils and Lakers split last time to the two teams saw each other. Fredonia took game one back on April 18th before Oswego battled back in game two. The Lakers Softball program is 23-28 all time against the Blue Devils and Oswego has nine victories in Western New York. The two teams kick off action at 3:00 p.m. for game one and will restart at tentatively 5:00 pm for game two.
Image Provided by William Rogers, WTOP 10 Photography Department
