Today against No.1 Elmira, Oswego State travels on the road for the first of their final two regular season games. These two conference games of ECAC West foes will occur, but the standings will remain the same after this weekend. Elmira, 21-1-1 (16-0-0 in ECAC West) holds a seven-point lead on Oswego State 18-4-1 (12-3-1), so even if Oswego State defeats Elmira in both games, they will remain the third seed in the conference.
Despite closer games head-to-head and an improvement in the Laker’s Women’s program, the Lakers have never been able to defeat the Soaring Eagles. Since 2010, the Lakers are 0-8-1 against them, with a goal differential of 11-30. However, last weekend, the Lakers set a single season record for wins in a season, with eighteen, and have arguably been playing their best hockey of the season up to this point. The Lakers are currently riding a seven-game winning streak, and look to bring that momentum on the road.
When the Lakers played Plattsburgh State earlier this season, when the Cardinals were then No.1 in the Nation, they lost both games, 0-4 and 1-5, respectively. Having to play a top-ranked team again is quite a challenge, and Head Coach Diane Dillon weighed in on strategy versus Elmira.
“We’re going to watch some film on Elmira,” Dillon said, “and see what they’ve got. I think we have to be strong defensively, they have so many weapons.”
Those weapons are Ashton Hogan and Ashley Ryan. Ryan is atop the standings in total points in DIII, with 52 total points, with 38 assists and 14 goals. Hogan has 44 points, 30 from goals and 14 from assists. Hogan also leads the nation in short-handed goals, with six. Ryan and Hogan each lead the nation in goal and assists, respectively.
“You certainly have to respect great talent,” Dillon said on Elmira’s star players. “They’re dangerous any time they have the puck with their stick. We still have to play to our schemes, but we want to know where they are at all times. We have to be smart about it.”
Senior goalie Bridget Smith, who leads the nation in save percentage, penalty kill, and is second in shutouts for the Lakers, realizes the tough task of having to play a No.1 team again.
“When Plattsburgh lost to Elmira, my dad said ‘Hey look you get to play the no.1 team again’. It’s definitely going to be a challenge, but I think we’ve come a long way since our Plattsburgh weekend, and I think we gel more as a team.”
If the Lakers defense, headed by Smith, can contain the best offense in the nation, they have a chance to keep the game competitive with an improved offensive unit.
“I think we’re gelling on offense right now,” Dillon said.
On their seven-game win streak, the Lakers have scored 30 goals, and have converted on 13 of their last 35 power plays (37%), which was a dramatic increase from a 10% conversion rate up to that point in the season.
Puck drop is at 3 p.m. today.
Stats:
Team offense –
Oswego State: 2.91 goals per game [17th Nationally]
Elmira: 5.09 goals per game [2nd Nationally]
Team Defense-
Oswego State: 1.30 goals per game [3rd Nationally]
Elmira: 1.61 goals per game [8th Nationally]
Power Play-
Oswego State: 19-96 (19.79%) [17th Nationally]
Elmira: 35-111 (31.53%) [1st Nationally]
Penalty Kill-
Oswego State: 71-75 (94.7%) [1st Nationally]
Elmira: 88-99 (88.9%) [6th Nationally]
