The Oswego State Women’s soccer team secured a playoff berth and the last available seed in the SUNYAC Tournament with a win over SUNY Cortland on Oct. 24 in the regular season conference finale. This win set up a showdown on Oct. 31 against SUNY Geneseo in the first round of the tournament. The Lakers finished the regular season conference schedule with 10 points, one point ahead of SUNY New Paltz.
The Geneseo Knights finished with a conference record of 6-3 and are the third seed in the playoffs. They are also the reigning SUNYAC Champions. Geneseo held off an Oswego State comeback on Oct. 15 with a 2-1 victory.
With every SUNYAC game the Lakers played being decided by one goal or ending in a tie, confidence has been inspired among the girls, according to head coach Brian McGrane.
“Losing by one goal shows we can compete,” McGrane said. “The whole conference was so tight this year that anyone can beat anyone else.”
The Lakers coach also said he wasn’t planning on changing his team’s philosophy.
“Obviously when you’re on the road you have to tighten up defensively but we’re still going to play our game,” McGrane said.
Since the Lakers are going up against the reigning SUNYAC Tournament most valuable player, sophomore forward Leah Greene, the defense will have a tough task containing her. Though the Lakers held her scoreless in the last matchup of the two teams, they realize she’s dangerous.
McGrane described her as a “dynamic and technical player who can dominate the outside and do some damage.” Even so, the girls have nothing but unwavering confidence in the back four defenders and their goalie.
“There’s never been any doubt in the defense,” said sophomore midfielder Emma Geyer.
The backline, in front of junior goalie Melissa Siegfried, all form an imposing defense that has kept the team in every game throughout the year.
“From day one we’ve been a tight knit group,” said junior starter Mary Morrison. “All the girls have been really close on and off the field. Being a center midfielder definitely helps with communication and confidence.”
As an upperclassmen and a transfer, she also takes pride in having a leadership role.
“Last year the captains helped me be mentally tough and I try to do the same thing for the girls this year,” Morrison said.
As a leader on the field and in the locker room, she definitely does exude confidence.
“We definitely deserve to be where we are,” Morrison said. “We worked hard for this.”
“We got lucky because of some other teams in the conference, but we deserve to be in the playoffs,” said sophomore midfielder Sarah Grupp.
The Geneseo Knights already have a target on their back as the defending champions and they’re sure to be given a tough game by the Lakers.
The keys to victory for Oswego are to execute their scoring chances, convert corner kicks and control the midfield. As a total this season the Lakers have outshot their opponents 273-143. It is important that they keep this trend to give themselves an advantage, especially with so many one-goal games.
Another thing that could affect the outcome this weekend is if the Lakers can convert their corner kicks. They generate them at a high rate, receiving 99 total on the season, compared to the 43 for their opponents. If the Lakers begin to convert a higher percentage of their corner kicks, their chance of victory increases monumentally. Finally, Oswego State must control the midfield to keep outside threat Leah Greene off her game and eliminate the Knights’ most dangerous scoring threat.
This year’s team is a confident, under the radar unit led by McGrane who chuckled and said, “Then they don’t know soccer.”
