Last Time Out

The Oswego State Lakers took on the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons for a weekend series and came out victorious both games. The Lakers had a 4-1 win over the Red Dragons during Saturday’s matchup. Olivia Ellis had a three-point performance, with a goal and two assists. Julieann White added another goal and an assist, as well. With the weekend sweep, the Lakers not only swept SUNY Cortland for the entire season but also clinched the No. 3 seed for the NEWHL playoffs. They will travel to Buffalo State, compared to traveling to Plattsburgh State.

The SUNY Potsdam Bears had an opposite weekend, going against the always-tough Plattsburgh State Cardinals. The Bears were shutout twice during the weekend series by scores of 4-0 and 5-0. Despite allowing five goals during the game, Kayla McCabe made 42 saves in net, including two 17-shot periods. Jenna Patterson led all skaters with four shots during the shutout. With Oswego State winning both games last weekend, and the Bears losing both games, it put the Bears out of reach for the third seed, meaning they will face Plattsburgh State in the first round.

Looking at the Bears

SUNY Potsdam has had their ups and downs throughout the season. They are nearly at a .500 season with an 11-10-2 record. They are currently on a two-game losing streak, with both losses to Plattsburgh State. With a 3-8-2 NEWHL record, they sit at the No. 4 and final playoff spot, which means they will face Plattsburgh State for the first round on Feb. 24.

Natalie Wasielewski is the top point-scorer with 14 points. She also has a team-leading eight goals. She has a team lead in shooting percentage, .200, and leads the team in plus-minus rating, with a plus-eight. Anna-Rose Bertin follows closely behind at 12 points with a team-leading eight assists. While Bertin is also a point-getter, she also leads the team in penalty minutes, with 15.

Samantha White has played and started in 11 games for the Bears. She leads the team with a 1.57 goals against average, and a .950 save percentage. She also has two of the three shutouts that the Bears have accumulated through the regular season.

Lakers vs. SUNY Potsdam History

Oswego State and SUNY Oswego have seen each other 38 times since the 1970s. The Bears proved their dominance in the early years, with victories such as 24-0 and 19-0. SUNY Potsdam holds a 21-13-4 advantage coming into the game today.

In recent years, the rivalry between the two teams, after being rivals in both the ECAC West and the NEWHL. While opponents in the ECAC West, they faced each other at least twice per season. This is the first time they are facing each other more than three times.

SUNY Potsdam and Oswego State have already faced each other twice this season in early January before the spring semester began. The two teams split the weekend, with the Lakers winning at home 4-1, but losing at Potsdam 3-1. That weekend was also the first weekend Mariah Madrigal made her return after a long injury that occurred in November against Plattsburgh State.

In the 4-1 victory on Jan. 12, three players had two-point games. Olivia Ellis had a goal and an assist, Andrea Noss has two goals, and Julieann White had two assists. Mariah Madrigal made 16 saves during the victory. Sarah Grupp had the goal in the 3-1 loss on Jan. 14, with Madrigal making 23 saves despite allowing three goals.

Player Spotlight

OSW: Olivia Ellis

Once again, Olivia Ellis has claimed the headlines for the Oswego State team tallying three points against SUNY Cortland during the Saturday game. With every point she adds, she continues to increase her lead in the Oswego State record books for program history. As the team prepares to end their regular season, and gets ready for senior day and the NEWHL playoffs, the Lakers will have to take advantage of their strong senior class which includes the dominant Ellis, for the remaining games they have them.

POT: Natalie Wasielewski

While Natalie Wasielewski has been quiet in the last couple games against Plattsburgh State, she has been a strong player all season long, leading the team in goals and points. She has proven her weight in gold in her freshman season, and will be a strong player for the next four years at SUNY Potsdam, and will also be a player to watch as she continues to grow. Wasielewski and the rest of the freshman class will be looking toward next season with the end of the season coming up.

By the Numbers

RECORD (vs. each other) [conference]

OSW: 10-11-2 (13-21-4) [6-7-1]

POT: 11-10-2 (21-13-4) [3-9-2]

GOALS (per game) [against each other this season]

OSW: 52 (2.3) [5 / 2.5]

POT: 38 (1.7) [4 / 2.0]

SHOTS (per game) [against each other this season]

OSW: 692 (30.1) [55 / 27.5]

POT: 561 (25.5) [43 / 21.5]

POWER PLAY (percentage) [against each other this season]

OSW: 13-102 (12.7%) [0-7 / 0.0%]

POT: 8-78 (10.3%) [1-5 / 20.0%]

Prediction

The Oswego State Lakers are riding the momentum from the series and season sweep of SUNY Cortland, while SUNY Potsdam is a little down after the completely shut out weekend against Plattsburgh State. The Lakers also have the advantage of knowing they have clinched the No. 3 seed and can avoid playing the Cardinals and look towards Buffalo State instead for the first round of the NEWHL playoffs.

Between recent dominant play from Olivia Ellis and Julieann White, both of those players will be key in the weekend series against the Bears. Natalie Wasielewski and Anna-Rose Bertin will be players to keep an eye on for SUNY Potsdam, as well.

Mariah Madrigal is also coming off of a lot of confidence after a couple of great performances against SUNY Cortland, whereas Samantha White, who was pulled during the second Plattsburgh State game, will be looking to rebound after allowing all four goals before putting on the figurative ball cap.

Oswego State wins this 3-1.