The Oswego State women’s ice hockey team couldn’t ask for a better way to open the second half of its season. In a two-game series with conference foe Chatham, the Lakers tallied 19 goals and 123 shots in decisive 10-0 and 9-3 victories at Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh, Penn.
On Friday, the Lakers exploded for a program-record 10 goals on 57 shots and limited the Cougar offense to just eight shots, including only one shot in the third period. Chatham had no more than four shots in any period on Friday.
The Lakers were led by sophomore forward Megan Howe, who recorded a team-high four points on two goals and two assists. Howe started the scoring at 4:37 of the first period while on the power play to give the Lakers the only goal they would need to win. Howe added another power-play goal at 16:38 of the second period to give Oswego State a 7-0 lead.
Senior forward Mackenzie Lee and sophomore forwards Carly Henderson and Emma Smetaniuk all added two goals a piece for the Lakers. Lee scored the team’s fifth and 10th goals, while Henderson scored the team’s second and fourth and Smetaniuk scored the third and eighth.
Senior forward Kelly Collins and sophomore forward Mady Paul also recorded goals for Oswego State. Paul’s goal was her first of the season and the team’s ninth of the game.
Chatham goaltender Kaitlynn Smith started the game for the Cougars and went 40 minutes, finishing with 37 saves on 45 shots faced before being replaced by Megan Buchanan to start the third period. Buchanan finished with 10 saves on 12 shots faced.
Oswego State sophomore goaltender Catherine Cote saved all eight shots she faced to earn the shutout for the Lakers.
The Lakers (7-5-2 overall, 6-2-2 ECAC West) finished 4-for-9 on the power play while keeping the Cougars without a power-play goal in seven chances.
Oswego State carried the momentum of Friday’s game over to Saturday, scoring nine goals and improving to 11-4-1 all time against Chatham. The Lakers outshot Chatham 66-10.
Collins and freshman forward Chelsey Draker each scored twice for the Laker offense and senior forward Jillian Bergeron finished with a goal and two assists. Draker scored the game’s first two goals before Lee scored her eighth goal of the season to give the Lakers a three-goal lead.
Sara Forbes scored for Chatham (0-8-0 overall, 0-8-0 ECAC West) in the final 30 seconds of the second period.
The Lakers scored the first five goals of the third period to jump out to a commanding 8-1 lead before Ashley Reid scored on the power play for Chatham. Collins scored her second goal of the game at 15:24 of the third period before Forbes scored her second goal of the game to cap off the scoring.
Freshman goaltender Bridgett Smith got the start in net for the Lakers and played the first 47:50 of the game, finishing with five saves on six shots to earn the win in net. Smith was replaced by Megan Amlinger, who finished with two saves. Buchanan played all 60 minutes for the Cougars, earning 57 saves.
The Lakers finished with two power-play goals and two shorthanded goals.
Senior forward Leah McNaughton, a transfer from Chatham, finished with one assist in the two-game series.
Oswego State returns to action on Tuesday, Jan. 17, when it hosts Hamilton College in a non-conference game at the Campus Center Ice Arena.
