A Fresh Start

Marking the start of the 2017-2018 Oswego State women’s ice hockey season, the team will be looking to make a fresh start.While the game against the Toronto Midget Aeros is only an exhibition game, this will give head coach Diane Dillon a look at her new team, after losing her second and third best scorers from last season.

After a 16-8-1 season, Dillon said they lost crucial match-ups, resulting in no home-ice advantage in the playoffs last year. The team will have a chance to redeem themselves after a disappointing 5-3 loss early in the ECAC West playoffs to Utica College.

Top Scorer Returning

Senior Olivia Ellis, who led the team with 36 points last season (14 G, 22 A), is returning this season. She was also named the captain this season, by vote of her teammates. She’ll be looking to top her own record of most points in a season, as well as breaking the assist record.

Also returning are seniors Andrea Noss, who was the team’s fourth-best scorer last year, and Mariah Madrigal, who took a majority of the team’s starts last year. Madrigal went 13-7-1-5 last year, allowing only 37 goals with a 1.77 goals against average.

Mid-Season Form vs. New Season Jitters

The Lakers have one “pre-game” disadvantage. Before even heading onto the rink to start the first period, the Toronto Midget Aeros have been playing since late August, and most likely practicing even before that. The Lakers began official practice at the beginning of last week and will be working out any issues they had during practice.

The Aeros, however, have played 17 games this season. They are 14-2-1 on the season, with six shutouts on the season. The team last played on Oct. 15 against the North Bay Ice Boltz, where they won 4-1.

New Conference for the Lakers

Oswego State will be embarking on a new journey this season, under a new league: The Northeast Women’s Hockey League. Many of the same teams, including Utica College, will be a non-conference match-up, this season.

Instead of the normal two games for a conference team per season, they will be playing them four times. Dillon said this will help all the teams get to know each other better, and how they play throughout the season. The first conference game for the Lakers will be Nov. 11 against Buffalo State.

By the Numbers

2016-2017 Season:

Record:

16-8-1 (10-6-2)

Shots per Game:

OSW: 35.8

Opponents: 23.4

Goals per Game:

OSW: 3.2

OPP: 1.8

Power Play:

OSW: 25-113 (22.1%)

OPP: 8-78 (10.3%)

Prediction

This is the fourth time the Lakers will be facing the Midget Aeros. Oswego State won the third battle, 3-1, last season. The Lakers are bringing back a fair number of top scorers, as well as their No. 1 goaltender from last season. The team also has one current injury, not including any in-game injuries or small cramps from practice. Victoria Blake has a fractured bone in her leg, and will hopefully be coming back by the end of October.

Since this is merely an exhibition game, and was last season as well, there is a lack of statistics from the actual game last season. While the Aeros will be looking to continue their successful season, as well as attempting to extend their win streak to 11, the Lakers are looking to shake out any loose ends before their first game on Oct. 27 against New England College.

Last season, the Aeros were on a 12-game win streak before losing to the Oswego State. The Lakers will be looking to end another major win-streak, again.

Lakers win 3-2.