The Oswego State field hockey team looks to rebound after a 7-10 season in 2011, but so far, the season has not gone the Lakers’ way. The team is currently 0-3, with losses at the hands of William Smith, the University of Rochester and Ithaca College, all of which came on the road.
The Lakers have only scored two goals on the season, with both coming in the season-opening loss to William Smith. They hope the offense will form into shape today, as the Lakers will face Morrisville State in their home opener at Laker Field at 4 p.m. They will play another home game Saturday at 1 p.m. against Houghton College.
Led by fifth-year head coach Brandi Lusk, who guided Oswego State to five wins in the team’s final seven games last season, the Lakers look to turn around a program that has not seen much success recently. The Lakers’ best season of late came in 2009, when the they went 7-9.
Oswego State has plenty of experience on its roster, with six seniors and five juniors. Senior midfielder captains Aislinn Breslin and Jess Felice will lead the team, which only has four freshmen, on the field this season. Felice was a captain last year as a junior, alongside Jackie Cook, who the Lakers lost to graduation.
Last season, Felice played in all 17 games, starting 16 of them. She scored two goals on 11 shots on goal and recorded two assists as well. Breslin also played in every game last year, starting six of them. She tallied a goal on four shots and an assist.
The Lakers will have to find a way to replace 2011’s leading scorer, Kelly Collins, who graduated last year as well. Collins, the 2008 SUNYAC Rookie of the Year, scored 11 goals on 56 shots and added three assists.
Oswego State’s goals this year have been scored by sophomore midfielder Courtney Collins and freshman forward Lisa O’Callaghan. The goals came in the second half of the loss to William Smith, but the Lakers entered the half trailing 4-0 and gave up three goals in the latter half.
Oswego State has six SUNYAC games this season, beginning with today’s matchup. The Lakers play three conference games on the road and three at home, with the final two coming on consecutive days at Laker Field. Conference play is an area where the Lakers have struggled recently. The team only had two conference victories last year, and just one the year before that.
All conference games are key, but the final two will be important for the Lakers. Oswego State will play SUNY Geneseo at home on Oct. 19, and then the next day will be Senior Day against the College at Brockport.
The Lakers will wrap up the regular season with two non-conference away games, Oct. 23 at Nazareth and then the season finale coming Oct. 27 at St. John Fisher. If the Lakers are able to advance to the SUNYAC Championships, their semifinal game would come on Nov. 2, with the championship game coming the next day, should Oswego State make it that far.
