Best start through four games since 1959, more than doubling last season’s goal total through five games and back-to-back weekends being crowned tournament champions is a summary of what Oswego State Lakers men’s soccer has done in their first two weeks of the season.
The Lakers (4-0-1) remain undefeated after a weekend up north in Vermont, convincingly winning the Southern Vermont Tournament in dominating 6-1 and 7-1 victories over Maine-Farmington and SUNY Canton.
In their victory over Maine-Farmington on Saturday, sophomore forward Caleb Asamoah came in with just a single goal accounted for, but orchestrated the team’s first hat trick of the season with three goals of his own.
Asamoah would tack on another goal in the championship game Sunday against SUNY Canton. Appallingly, he was not recognized to the All-Tournament team, but was recently named Laker Athlete of the Week. His emergence on offense will be key for the uprising Lakers continuing on in the season.
The quality of competition the Lakers have faced thus far does not compare to who they will be facing coming up, but it is hard to ignore that they are plus-21 in goals through five matches this season, after they finished last season at minus-22.
This weekend, the Lakers are likely to face some of their tougher tests in the non-conference schedule with a home match Friday and a road match Saturday.
Oswego State vs St.Lawrence
Friday, 4:00 p.m.
Laker Turf Stadium
St. Lawrence was a top team in the East region last season, finishing the 2016 season 11-4-1, but was bounced in the first round of the NCAA Div.III Championship in a shootout loss to Washington & Lee.
St. Lawrence defeated Oswego State last season 1-0 during their 7-0 start to the season. It has been a different story for the Saints this season as they stand at a 1-2-1 record with 11 goals scored.
The Lakers’ defense will have their hands full with the experience up front of the St. Lawrence on offense. Brandon McNamee and Kelly Charlton are two players to watch for on the Saints as they combined for six goals last season and five goals combined already this season.
Hassan Musa, Connor Lunduski, and Jason Siracuse, with the help of Asamoah, is a dangerous offensive attack, an attack that St. Lawrence will have a tenacious time dealing with on the road.
This will be a highly competitive matchup, but the Lakers will stay hot and take down St. Lawrence 3-1.
Oswego State at Morrisville State
Saturday, 4:00 p.m.
Morrisville came to Oswego last season on Senior Day and stole a game the Lakers had, putting an end to what was a sluggish season already.
Now, with Oswego State coming to Morrisville this season, the Mustangs will face a whole different animal in the Laker men’s soccer team.
The Lakers will keep their eye on Mustangs forward Julian Rodriguez, who scored the game winning goal in last season’s matchup in extra time. Rodriguez has also scored three of the five goals the Mustangs have this season
Win or lose Friday, the Lakers should have no problems on the road this Saturday, and cruise to a 5-1 victory over the Morrisville State Mustangs.
