Fix You

After the second seven goal defeat of the year, the Lakers will need a major change in game plan, or at least just try to replicate what they did in the first five minutes and change of last night. Oswego State registered only two shots in the final frame. Elmira College was putting on a clinic in the offensive zone.

It will definitely be tough to do, this Elmira team is so deep. The Soaring Eagles score almost 3 goals per game more in conference play than the Lakers. Somehow, Oswego State will need to get the bounces to go their way, Elmira had everything go their way last night.

In the Crease

Trovato sure sounds like she will be in net today after Dillon’s post game press conference. Definitely a game she will want to forget, she gets a chance to make up for it today. Elmira College could go with either goaltender. Crawford looked solid in net last night, when she was actually tested. Kyle Nelson has seen 42% of the net share this season. After the blowout loss last night it only make sense to put her in and keep both goalies rested and sharp before the playoffs.

Extra Incentive 

The Lakers will be hosting their Senior Night after today’s game. This should get some underclassmen to bring that extra effort. Especially because Coach Dillon said that some players “rolled over and died yesterday.” I’m sure she made that known in the locker room, that could help the Lakers get going.

Seniors

The four seniors today have seen a lot of success over the four years they have been here. They will play in their last regular season game today. Here’s a look at all four.

Tori Trovato

Trovato is so high with Coach Dillon. She constantly raves about her compete level and athleticism, the coach isn’t wrong. Tori may not be the perfect goalie, but who is? She succeeds on the ice because of how good of an athlete she is, that makes up for any lapses in her play.

What really impresses people is the type of leader she is.  After being pulled yesterday, most goalies would go into turtle mode. Any player that gets benched isn’t happy. She probably wasn’t happy either, but she didn’t show it. Trovato was out on the bench, banging her blocker on the boards after seeing Mikaela Ditonto make some saves. She was vocal, helping her team out, even when they were down seven goals.

That’s what a good leader does, it shows in her character and that will translate later in her life.

Lizzy Marks

The assistant captain leads all forwards in blocked shots. That’s something the entire coaching staff stresses, it’s only fitting that she leads that category. With 23 career points, she is the definition of a good two-way forward. She leads by example and has quietly been one of the most consistent forwards all year. She is the type of player that Coach Dillon loves to have and will be missed once her career ends.

Bailee Goodon

The quiet one from Manitoba has been on a little bit a scoring streak lately. She scored in her second straight game yesterday and really cements herself in the bottom six. Winning faceoffs and helping her younger line mates. That line has been the best one as of late. They are working hard, playing together and it is paying off in goals. Goodon has a +3 plus/minus rating during her career. That number says a lot, considering she doesn’t play with too may scorers. It shows how solid she is defensively, and she’s proven that this year. She’s the good example the younger players can learn from.

Jayme McCreary

The lone defenseman in this senior class has been one of the most reliable all year, and her career.  Not many statistics for her, but those don’t make a good defender. She’s good in her own zone, taking care of the puck and just locking down her defensive assignment. She has recorded a career-high in assists this year, with four, and that is because of her increased time on the power play. The two sport athlete and ECAC West All-Academic Team member, she is the epitome of a good student-athlete.

Congrats to all the seniors, good luck in your future and mostly, good luck in the playoffs.

Players To Watch

Lakers- Sarah Grupp

The entire fourth line of the Lakers has been great as of late. They were the only line combo without a negative plus/minus yesterday. She only has one point on the year, but has seen her TOI improve. Grupp is proving herself as a good forward that Dillon can trust. She will need to be good again to try to help shut down the Soaring Eagles’ offense.

Soaring Eagles- Johanna Eidensten

The captain was good yesterday, scoring twice and putting up two shots. She really does a nice job of getting open and knows where the open spaces are to help facilitate the offense. She now has five goals on the year, not one of the main scorers from this team, but she was yesterday and could continue that today.

By the Numbers

Standings

Lakers- 15 points [Fifth Place]

Soaring Eagles- 30 points [Second Place]

Goals per Game

Lakers- 2.21

Soaring Eagles- 3.96

Powerplay

Lakers-13-81 (16.0%) [No. 24 in Div. III]

Soaring Eagles-18-87  (20.7%) [No. 13 in Div. III]

Penalty Kill

Lakers- 49-58 (84.5%) [No. 33 in Div. III]

Soaring Eagles- 84-95  (88.4%) [No. 14 in Div. III]

Game Prediction

The short handed marker was the change in the game yesterday, that was Elmira’s sixth of the year. Oswego State just needed some bounces to go their way early and it could’ve been a different game. This one will be closer, but the potent offense of Elmira will be too much for the Lakers, yet again. Oswego State makes some adjustments, which helps and keeps it close, but they won’t be able to bury their chances.

Soaring Eagles win 4-1