A Reminder

The No. 2/3 Oswego State Lakers are coming off a 21-day break since their last contest, a 5-2 road win over the Plattsburgh State Cardinals on Dec. 9. The 8-1-1 Lakers have won three consecutive games and sit tied atop the SUNYAC with SUNY Geneseo. Opposing them will be the Neumann University Knights, who comes into the contest with a 4-5-1 record and losers of their last two. The Knights have also been off since Dec. 9, when were on the receiving end of a 9-1 blowout at the hands of the Utica College Pioneers.

The Potential

The Lakers have well outplayed expectations so far this season, and there are so many more gears the team is on the verge of unlocking. Former Div. I player Michael Gillespie has yet to find a consistent scoring touch, while senior Mitch Herlihey was just able to start rolling in the offensive end just before the break. If these two can really bust out of the gate strong into the second semester, the Lakers will have no problem remaining one of the top teams in the nation.

The Problem

It took two very different roads to reach this point, but this current Lakers team and last seasons team have many parallels. One of the biggest comparisons that can be drawn is that both teams finished the first semester with just one loss. If you can remember, this was the point where the wheels started to fall off for the Lakers last year. If Oswego State is able to hold their ground and beat Neumann, they will already set themselves in the right direction.

By the Numbers

OSW (Team)

GF- 37

GA- 18

Points- 97

SH%- .104

Assists- 60

Saves- 222

NEU (Team)

GF- 26

GA- 36

Points- 69

SH%- NA

Assists- 46

Saves- 333

OSW (Individual)

Goals- Zizek (8)

Assists- Zizek (8)

Points- Zizek (16)

GAA- Richer (1.77)

SV%- .929

NEU (Individual)

Goals- Swain (8)

Assists- Davidson (10)

Points- Davidson (15)

GAA- Pupplo (4.00)

SV%- Pupplo (.905)