HAMBURG, NY – Women’s basketball got their first win of the season in Buffalo in their opening game of the season taking down Hilbert College 78-63 on Tuesday night. The Lakers started off the first quarter strong by scoring 23 points compared to the Hawks nine. Both Shania Iglesias and transfer student Karleigh Leo scored the first two three-pointers of the season for the Lakers. Both Logan Castiglione and Diamond Pickett were active in the first quarter as Castiglione had 3 assists and Pickett had six rebounds. Leo in her first game as a Laker had scored nine points in the first quarter.
The Lakers never slowed down as they continued to hold onto the lead in the second quarter. The Lakers got back-to-back steals from Pickett towards the end of the first half as they led to points by Shania Iglesias and then Pickett was able to add to her points total for the game. The Lakers were able to get 30 rebounds in the first half compared to only 17 for the Hawks and had 20 points in the paint. The Lakers led 35-30 going into halftime.
The Lakers defense continued to give the Hawks problems in the second half. The Lakers led 57-44 going into the final quarter. They were able to get their biggest lead of the game in the third quarter, leading 62-44. The Hawks couldn’t find any answers to the Lakers who dominated in almost every aspect of the game and on the stat sheet as well. Pickett had a great game for the Lakers as she scored 16 points and grabbed 14 rebounds along with shooting 70% from the field. Leo made a name for herself on the court as she led the Lakers on the night with 20 points.
The Lakers will host their first game of the season on Friday, November 11th at 7:30 PM at the Max Ziel Gymnasium against the Keystone Giants. The Lakers will take on a Keystone squad for the first time in their program history where they face a team who went 18-8 last season and made it to the CSAC Championships before losing. Keystone fell to Wilkes on Tuesday night 76-52.
PHOTO COURTESY OF OSWEGO ATHLETICS
-
Oswego State Women’s Hockey 2020-2021 Roster Updates
Oswego State Women’s Hockey 2020-2021 Roster Update #1 (4/18/20)
OSWEGO, NY — The Women’s Hockey team heads into the off season only losing a few players from their 2019-2020 roster. The team lost four players due to graduation along with three players during the course of the regular season for various reasons. In total, the Lakers lost four forwards, two defenseman, and two goaltenders that will need to be replaced this off season. Oswego moves forward searching for multiple goaltenders as both starter Rachael Farmer and back up Tia Trovato left the team. So of course, the starting position is open heading into next season. So far, it has been a quiet off season as the group has only secured five recruits.
As for the goaltending problem, the search for players between the pipes has ended as the Lakers have secured three goalies heading into next season. JoAnna Hiebert from Highland Charter Township, Michigan is one of the three goaltenders coming to Oswego to play between the pipes. Hiebert has played the past two seasons for Meijer AAA Hockey in Michigan in which the goaltender has been the starter for the team. The 5’ 7” goaltender played 34 games this season and recorded a 2.05 goals against average.
The second goaltender heading to Oswego State next season is Bryn White. The Colorado native played for the Boston Shamrocks that plays in the Junior Women’s Hockey League. The goaltender that catches left played 16 games this season for the Shamrocks in which White recorded a .848 save percentage with a 6.43 goals against average.
The third and final goaltender heading to play for the Lakers in Emilie Venne. Venne played for the Northwood Girls Hockey team located in Lake Placid, New York. The eighteen year old from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada catches left and will join JoAnna Hiebert and Bryn White inbetween the pipes next season for Oswego.
With only the notable loss of Eryn Stewart due to graduation, most of the Lakers offense will be back next season. Megan Teachout, Amber Thomas, and Morgan Shines will most likely return for the Lakers, which means the group will most likely look for players that can step into a secondary scoring spot and grow for years to come.Oswego has also picked up two forwards to add to the recruitment class. Rachel Corbett from Rochester, NY played for the U19 Buffalo Regals this past season. Corbett has been with the program for two years as the team played in the Lower Lakes Female Hockey League this past season. Corbett along with 11 other players committed to an NCAA team for next season from this team.
The second forward to commit to Oswego is Sophia Kyrkostas from Selden, New York. Kyrkostas played for the Selects Academy located in Rochester, New York this past season. The 5’ 2” forward played with the Lady Islanders before heading to Rochester to play with the Selects.
Heading further into the off season, the Oswego State Lakers still need to find a few more players to complete their 2020-21 roster. The team would most likely look for two to three more defenseman to complete an 8-man unit as well as find two to three more forwards for four lines and two extra players. WTOP 10 will continue to deliver updates on both the Men’s and Women’s hockey teams heading into next season. Their 2020-21 schedules should be released around the middle of July.
Oswego State Women’s Hockey 2020-21 Roster Update #2 (5/29/20)
OSWEGO, NY — As the Women’s Hockey team continues into their off-season, the coaching staff has continued to grow their roster for the 2020-21 season. The Lakers look to build off their successful season with the addition of the Class of 2024, which currently includes players from all over North America. After the team lost seven players due to graduation and other situations, the group has secured five players so far, which includes three goaltenders to replace senior Rachael Farmer. Oswego also has added two players to their offensive core to play along side players like Megan Teachout, Amber Thomas, and Emily Gustafson. The projected roster for the 2020-21 season is noted in the graphic below.
Recently, Oswego State was able to recruit another forward to add to their depth up front. Ben Grieco (@BenGriecoSports) reported the commitment of Madison Shepard who will be wearing the green and gold next season, as the Whitby, Ontario, Canada native will join the Lakers for their fourth season in the Northeast Women’s Hockey League. The 5’ 7” forward played for the Durham West Junior Lightning in the Provincial Women’s Hockey League, the same league that the London Junior Devilettes play in. This team faced the Lakers in an exhibition game this past season, where Oswego lost 0-4 on home ice. The Lakers have spent the past 6 seasons beginning with a PWHL opponent coming to play inside the Marano Campus Center. The Lightning finished in 15th this past season and lost to the Stoney Creek Sabres in the opening round of the PWHL Playoffs, losing the series 3-1. Shepard would tally one goal in the four playoff games. Over the course of the regular season, the left handed shot would tally 8 points (3 goals & 5 assists) in 32 games played. Shepard spent the previous two seasons with the Whitby Wolves, spending most of the 2017-18 season with the group’s Midget AA team. During her time in the league, Shepard has recorded a career total of 17 points (7 goals & 10 assists) in 74 contests.
With three forwards getting added to the current list, Oswego State now has 13 forwards heading into the 2020-21 season. Compared to the beginning of the 2019-20 campaign, the team would still need to add one more forwards to equal their total of 15 forwards of their prior season. The Lakers still have four defenseman as the group has not yet recruited any defensive players. WTOP 10 will continue to deliver updates on both the Men’s and Women’s hockey teams heading into next season. Their 2020-21 schedules should be released around the middle of July.
Oswego State Women’s Hockey 2020-2021 Roster Update #3 (6/24/20)
OSWEGO, NY — The Women’s Hockey team continues to recruit talent as the team closes in on their 2020-21 season. After the announcement that new Interim Head Coach Mark Digby would be taking over the group, effectively immediately, the team has been continuing to add to their recruitment class. Prior to these newer commitments, Oswego was able to secure 6 players to throw on the green and gold for the first time next year. With all of these players being a part of the Class of 2024, the team is sure to have a large underclassman presence as the sophomore class has five notable players that were able to make impacts during their freshman campaign. With three goaltenders in this group, the Lakers have already taken care of the hole left in between the pipes after Rachel Farmer graduated, and Tia Trovato transferred to Potsdam. These three will be fighting for the starting job come October. The other three players will be joining the offense as the team is trying to add to their current group of 11 forwards that will most likely be returning next season.
The depth chart above shows the current projected 2020-21 roster. The purple coloring represents the two transfers, while the green represents the Class of 2024 recruits. Black is players that are expected to be back next season. The most recent announcements surfaced on social media last week with a total of three players committing to Oswego State. The first player, joining the Class of 2024, was Kamryn Barnes, from Alexandria Bay, New York. The 5′ 6″ defenseman graduated from Alexandria Bay Central High School this past year, a town located roughly one hour and 30 minutes northeast of Oswego along Lake Ontario. Barnes was the captain of her high school team her senior year, and also played varsity soccer during the fall. The athlete will join the four other defenseman returning in the fall, and is currently slotted in the Top-6 due to the lack of defenseman. This knowledge was found on Instagram by WTOP 10 Sports Talent Thomas Turgeon (@Turgeon_30wtop).
The two other commitments were rather significant for the Lakers compared to the past commitments of incoming freshman. Last week, Taylor Hudon and Lauren Jones announced that they will be transferring from Nazareth College to join the Lakers in the 2020-21 season. Both players spent the past two seasons with the Golden Flyers and will be juniors next season as the two put on green and gold on for the first time. Lauren Jones, a defenseman from Syracuse, New York, played for Skaneateles High School prior to the start of her collegiate career, the same school where current Oswego State player Meg Teachout played in high school. The two were teammates for two seasons while playing in Section III. Jones played in one game this past season for Nazareth, recording zero points. Her freshman year, the player tallied 5 points (1 goal & 4 assists) in 26 games played. Taylor Hudon will also be joining the Lakers squad next season as the forward played 4 games last season for the Golden Flyers, recording one goal. Hudon, from Alexandria Bay, New York, played in 26 games her freshman campaign, tallying 20 points (15 goals & 5 assists) along with 8 penalty minutes. The player has spent time on defense while she played in high school, but I would expect her to continue in the offensive core for the Lakers. Both players played a combined 5 games for Nazareth last season, both being healthy scratches for a majority of the campaign. This information has been confirmed via Instagram.
After these three players join the 2020-21 roster, Oswego State has now recruited a total of 9 players. Moving forward, the coaching staff will look to continue to grow this group by obtaining more offensive and defensive players. The defensive core still has some gaps to fill with only 6 reported players set in the 2020-21 roster. WTOP 10 will continue to provide updates on all Oswego State teams as the groups prepare for the start of their next seasons!
-
Men’s hockey losses tough conference matchup
OSWEGO, N.Y. – The Oswego State men’s hockey team took to home ice for their lone game of the weekend on Friday for a SUNYAC matchup with the Cortland Red Dragons. It was the second meeting between the two this season, the Lakers won the last matchup 5-4. Cortland found the scoreboard first. After a tripping call against Oswego’s Ryan Dickinson, the Red Dragons capitalized on the power play. The game remained 1-0 for a good chunk of the first period, both teams putting chances on net, but the goal tenders playing well. Oswego was next to score, tying the game. Connor Gatto was one-on-one with the goalie and made an excellent move to deke around him and have a wide open net behind for the game-tier. The Lakers then took the lead, Tommy Cahill firing one past the goalie for the 2-1 lead, but Cortland wouldn’t let it stand for long. The Red Dragons would tie it again before the end of the first, with less than a minute to go. When the first period finally ended it was 2-2. Cal Schell made seven saves, the Cortland’s goalie, Luca Durante‘s six.
The Second period was more tame than the first. Only one goal found netting, this one in favor of the Red Dragons. Cortland’s second power play goal of the game, on their final power play opportunity. The goal was scored just after the half way mark in the period. Oswego wasted three different power play opportunities of their own, at one point being on a 5-3 for just under a minute. Oswego did have 14 shots on goal in the period, all of them saved by Durante. Schell had another seven saves of his own, to go with the one allowed goal.
The Lakers would re-tie the game early in the third. Alex DiCarlo snuck one by Durante. The Lakers had another two power-play chances in the period that they couldn’t capitalize on, they were an abysmal 0-6 in the game on the powerplay. Despite plenty more chances for each side, neither team would score again, and the game would go to OT. Durante had 17 more saves in the period, Schell amounting another 8.
Overtime didn’t last long, just a minute in Cortland scored a wrap-around goal to win it 4-3. Luca Durante amassed 39 saves in the contest, Schell had 24. Oswego out shot Cortland 42-28, Tommy Cahill leading Oswego in shots with 8. Shane Bull assisted on two goals in the contest.
Oswego is now 8-0-3-1 in the SUNYAC, putting them in second place with 17 points behind Plattsburgh, while also playing one extra game. Their next game is next Friday against the Geneseo Ice Knights in Oswego, the game is themed “Into the Knight”. Puck drop is set for 7:00 P.M. Coverage will start on https://www.youtube.com/@WTOP10TV at 6:30 with Hockey Night in Oswego.
IMAGE PROVIDED BY OSWEGO 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
