The score was more respectable today, a 3-1 final. Oswego State made adjustments and it showed. It still wasn’t enough. The offense of the Lakers couldn’t generate enough chances through the first 40 minutes, and they fell for the second straight day to one of the top teams in Div. III hockey.
This is a good sign though, they played with Elmira College all game. Trovato bailed them out numerous times. They had good energy and competed for the duration of the contest. The string of quality starts is one positive from the last few weekends here, despite only getting one win.
“How we are trying to focus the team has changed a little bit,” Coach Dillon said. “Trying to make sure that were ready for those first five minutes.”
The adjustments made were clearly evident in the first period. The score after the first 20 was knotted at 0. A good defensive effort, the Lakers just couldn’t get enough offense going, the story of the game. Oswego State did an excellent job of back-checking and clogging up the middle, taking away the third man entering the zone.
“We always come up with keys to success for a particular game,” Dillon said. “One of them was backside pressure, back-checking pressure. Elmira likes to hit their trailer, they set up their triangle offense, you gotta keep coming hard on the back side to shut some of that down.”
Elmira College finally broke through in the middle frame. The captain scored her third of the weekend at 7:14 of the second period. Katie Granato was given the assist on the individual effort from Johanna Eidensten. She took a shot from the slot, that Trovato originally stopped, got her own rebound and beat Trovato high blocker side.
“We made a couple of adjustments [pre-game] that slowed them down a little bit,” Dillon said. “In that second period they still got loose on us quite a bit.”
Just under seven minutes later Maddy Jerolman made it 2-0 with help from McKenna Farole and Louisa Lippiatt Durnell. A powerplay marker. Terrific passing was the reason that Jerolman was open in the near side circle. The penalty kill for the Lakers looked great all night, even with this goal allowed.
“The penalties hurt us, we gave up a powerplay goal,” Dillon said. “That was just a mistake, two players ended up losing their structure. That’s just frustrating.”
Oswego State created no pressure in the second, only registering three shots.
The third period was much better. The Lakers scored, a lucky one, but they scored to cut the lead to 3-1 after Rachel Grampp buried a wrap around chance early in the third.
Alli Ullrich came down the wing on the powerplay, fell down but still got the puck toward the net. Her centering pass/shot deflected off the leg of Appelbaum and in.
Obviously more players showed up today. An 8-1 beat down one day, to a 3-1 effort the next. If the Lakers can take this play into playoffs, they may have a shot at advancing.
“I thought our [defense] was much better than they were yesterday overall,” Dillon said. “I think some players played some pretty good games … After an 8-1 shellacking I was happy with the fight and the tensity that they showed, and the heart, especially on senior day.”
Not Enough
This senior day game and the beat down from yesterday was the extra incentive they needed to play better. It still wasn’t enough. Today really showed where the Lakers’ shortcomings reside. What are you they ask? The number one issue is speed. One can say size but women’s hockey doesn’t allow checking, size doesn’t make a whole heck of a difference.
The other issue is obviously goal scoring. The three top scorers were all first year players in the program. Ellis had 27 points, Rice had 20, Noss had 18. The same three led again this year, but with decreased totals. All three, especially Ellis and Rice. Ellis had 18, nine less than last year. Rice had 13, seven less than last year. Noss had 15, just three less than last year. She stayed pretty consistent. Those numbers directly correlate to the win total being decreased. Not what anyone expected.
Playoff Outlook
The Lakers held onto the five seed today, despite the loss. Their head-to-head record against Cortland secures them the five seed. Tomorrow’s match up between Buffalo State and Utica College will determine who the Lakers draw.
Highlight Reel
Trovato made some fantastic saves today that left Elmira College scratching their heads. She made 24 saves, not a huge number but she was solid. Actually more than solid. The Lakers may have won this one if a couple of bounces went their way. If that happened it would be totally because of her play.
My Three Stars
3- Tori Trovato
Again, she played great. Making some big saves at key times. Two of her three goals allowed were gorgeous shots. A huge improvement from yesterday and a great showing on senior day.
2- Kyle Nelson
She only made 12 saves tonight, not a stellar number, but only allowed one goal on a freak deflection. The goalie tandem in Elmira is definitely tops in the country and it showed this weekend.
1- Lousia Lippiatt Durnell
Two more assists today upped her point total to four on the weekend. Another good showing from the UK native. The top line center was huge again tonight, her speed and vision are the top traits in her game and they showed.
Injury Update
Brianna McFall’s knee injury seems to be the most severe. She’s missed five weeks of hockey and doesn’t seem like she will be back anytime soon.
Lydia Cosgrove’s status is the most promising. Dillon said she is “fine” today. That means she could be back from her upper body injury for playoffs.
Mariah Madrigal is just starting to skate again, her status is up in the air.
Best Quote
Dillon discussed the goalless drought of Olivia Ellis today, something that everyone is starting to notice. Just no luck is coming her way. She laughed while saying it. She knows it’s hard but she believes in her biggest offensive threat.
“She’s about ready to kill somebody I think. She’s struggling, it gets in your head.”
She rang one off the crossbar today and had two more prime chances that she couldn’t capitalize on. Yes, this is something I harp on every game, but this slump has to end soon. The team needs her production.
The first round of the ECAC West playoffs are TBD. Stay tuned for updates on times and who the Lakers will draw.
