The Oswego State women’s hockey team went back to work on Jan. 5 after posting a 6-5-1 record during the first half of the season.
The Lakers hosted a two-game weekend series against St. Norbert College. They won the first game 3-2, as sophomore goalie Bridget Smith carried the team on her back en route to the team’s seventh win of the season. Smith allowed only two goals, while tallying 20 saves. The win was her sixth of the season.
Juniors Melissa Seamont and Megan Hagg carried the team offensively, with each recording two points (one goal and one assist each). Junior captain Olivia Boersen got the scoring started when she scored her fifth goal of the season just two and a half minutes into the game. Seamont and Junior Emma Smetaniuk were credited with assists.
Seamont then gave the Lakers a 2-0 cushion with about 30 seconds remaining in the first period, scoring her fifth goal of the season with a little help from Hagg and junior Chelsea Hunt, who assisted the goal.
Smith was a brick wall in between the posts in the first period, racking up 11 saves. St. Norbert College jumped back into the game in the second period as they cut the deficit to one after junior Andrea Senne found the back of the net after receiving a pass from junior Karissa Anderson.
St. Norbert then tied the game at two, three minutes into the third period on an unassisted goal scored by junior Henriette Ostergaard, her fourth of the season. Both teams fought hard throughout the rest of the period and were backed by strong goaltending. However, with about nine minutes remaining, Hagg put the Lakers in front for good.
The Lakers were on the power play when Hagg scored the game-winner on a quick wrist shot after receiving a pass from freshman Bailee Goodon. The goal was Hagg’s fourth of the year and Goodon recorded her third assist of the season. The Lakers went on to win the game 3-2 behind a clutch defensive performance by Smith.
Coming off the 3-2 win, the Lakers were back in action Sunday night, Jan. 6, and dropped a close contest to the Green Knights. Freshman Tori Trovato started in between the posts for Smith and performed well, despite giving up two goals in the 2-1 loss. Trovato gave up her first goal eight minutes into the game, as Senne scored for the second time in as many games. Senne corralled the rebound and guided the puck past the crease after a shot by junior Laurel Hill, who was credited with the assist.
The Green Knights increased their lead to two in the second period when Isabell Lindstrom scored her third goal of the season after passes on the give-and-go by Anderson and junior Tarraneh Dadgar.
The Lakers cut the deficit one minute later in the period when junior freshman Leslie Jarvis’ slap-shot found the back of the net after a pass from Hagg. The Lakers failed to even the score in the third period despite pulling Trovato for the game’s last 52 seconds. Trovato tallied 17 saves in the loss, as she dropped to 1-2 on the season, while Green Knight junior goalie Kaley Gibson recorded 16 saves and improved to 4-5-2.
The Lakers traveled to Plattsburgh the following weekend for a two game showdown with the rival Cardinals. Saturday’s game represented the first time these two teams met since SUNY Plattsburgh ousted the Lakers from the playoffs last season in a closely contested 1-0 game. The Lakers were motivated to beat their rival, but they failed to do so, as they dropped both games.
The undefeated Cardinals thrashed the Lakers on Saturday with a dominating 8-0 win. Plattsburgh gained a boost from standout sophomore players Shannon Stewart, who scored four times in the impressive victory. Stewart raised her goal total from seven to 10 on the season, and also added an assist. The Cardinals also received goals from junior Allison Era and Chelsea Vanglahn, freshman Giovanna Senese and senior Teal Gove.
Smith started in net for the Lakers but couldn’t make it out of the second period. She allowed five goals in 28 minutes of action, including three from Stewart. Trovato relieved Smith midway through the second period, but couldn’t stop the bleeding, allowing three goals in the remaining 31 minutes.
Plattsburgh junior goalie Sydney Aveson performed well in the net, stopping all 18 Laker shots. Aveson earned her ninth win of the season and improved to 9-0-1 while Smith took the loss and fell to 6-4-1.
The Lakers didn’t let the big loss get to their heads, as they came out strong the following day and gave Plattsburgh all they could handle. Smith bounced back and tallied 38 saves and allowed only two goals. Unfortunately for the Lakers, Aveson starred between the posts again and recorded her second consecutive shutout. Sophomore Morgan MacInnis scored the game’s first goal after a scoreless first period, her fourth of the season. The score remained 1-0 until late in third period, when the Cardinals increased their lead to two after another goal from Stewart.
The Lakers increased the tempo and tried to score, but came up short. Oswego State only mustered up 15 shots on goal compared to Plattsburgh’s 40. The Lakers dropped their third straight game and headed home to prepare for Buffalo State.
The Lakers hosted Buffalo State the following weekend and were looking to end their losing streak against a struggling Bengal team. Oswego State didn’t disappoint as they swept the weekend series in front of their home fans. The Lakers won on Friday night behind a shutout performance from Smith and two goals from junior Mady Paul. Oswego State jumped out to a 1-0 lead with less than two minutes to go in the first period after an unassisted goal from Seamont.
Paul increased the lead to two late in the second period when she got the rebound from a Seamont shot and managed to guide it past Bengal junior goalie Jordan Lee. Paul scored her second goal when she received a pass from Seamont shortly after Lee was pulled late in the third period and gave the Lakers a 3-0 lead. Oswego State held on to win the game despite the late push from Buffalo State.
The Lakers won their second consecutive game on Saturday afternoon behind another shutout from Smith. Smith saved 18 shots en route to her eighth win of the season. Oswego State jumped out in front early in the second period after a scoreless first period when Seamont scored her seventh goal of the season after finding the puck after Lee stopped Jarvis’ shot. Jarvis and freshman Bianca Camillaci were credited with the assists on the play. Hagg tacked on an insurance goal late in the third period after receiving a pass from Jarvis. Boersen also earned an assist on the play. The Lakers won their ninth game of the season while Buffalo State dropped its eleventh game of the season.
Oswego State looked to stay hot and build on its two-game winning streak the following weekend against a non-conference team in Stevenson University. This season was the Mustangs on the schedule for the first time in program history. Oswego State exploited the youth of Stevenson’s team on Saturday with a big 5-1 win. The Lakers offensive explosion can be credited to the quick tempo that their playmakers set.
Seamont got the scoring started early with her eighth goal of the season. After Smetaniuk and freshman Jayme McCreary advanced the puck to Seamont, she tiptoed her way through the Mustang defense and scored on a quick wrist shot.
Stevenson’s freshman Rachel Martell knotted things up late in the first during a Mustang power play, after her slap shot taken from near the blue line worked its way through traffic and past Smith. The goal was Martell’s second of her career and was assisted by fellow freshman Karly Vis.
The tie game was short-lived, as the Lakers exploded out of the gate to start the second period. Boersen scored her sixth goal of the season on a breakaway goal just 46 seconds into the period. Smetaniuk added the Laker’s third goal of the game late in the period after Chelsea Hunt and Seamont advanced the puck past the neutral zone.
The Lakers took their 3-1 lead into the third period when Boersen added her second goal of the game and freshman Lizzy Marks increased the lead to four. The 5-1 lead would remain unchanged and the Lakers went on to win their tenth game of the season.
The Lakers went into Sunday’s game against Stevenson hoping to extend their winning streak to four games. However, the Mustangs showed up ready to play and fought off a late Laker surge, to secure a 1-0 victory. Freshman Megan Donahue scored the lone goal of the game early in the second period off of a pass from freshman Ana-Sophia Brand. Donahue received the pass and skated through Oswego State’s zone and managed to put the puck behind Trovato.
Trovato, starting for Smith, recorded 21 saves in the loss as the Lakers couldn’t get anything going offensively. Sarah Modzelewski started in net for the Mustangs and recorded a shutout after stopping all 29 Laker shots. The Lakers dropped to 10-9-1, while Stevenson improved to 6-9-1.
The Lakers look to finish off the season strong. They have two conference games against SUNY Cortland remaining on their schedule before the post eason. Oswego State needs to win both games to remain over .500, although wining only one game will still secure at least one home game in the playoffs.
The Lakers recently dropped their final two home games against Elmira College on Friday and Saturday, falling 2-0 and 6-0, respectively. Smith took both losses to the Soaring Eagles, dropping her overall record on the season to 9-7-1.
