Last season, the Oswego State field hockey team’s goal was to get its first winning season since 1985. While the goal is still the same this year, head coach Heather Moore is adding the challenge of going to the SUNYAC playoffs.

The Lakers had the advantage of players like Monica Harvey and Sarita Charap, who both graduated. While Moore has players who she believes can be replacements for Harvey and Charap, there is still one position she is concerned about heading into the season.

“Monica was our corner hitter, our striker,” Moore said. “So, we’re kind of working with some of the freshmen who have good hits. With Lacey [Woite] at the top of the circle, we should be good.”

Harvey led the team with six assists last season and was a vocal leader as the captain for the squad. Woite and Maddie Nelson were both named captain for the 2018 season. Woite said she hopes to fill Harvey’s shoes.

“I’ve looked up to Monica since I was a freshman,” Woite said. “I hope to even be part of what she was.”

The 2018 freshman class takes up a large part of the roster, mainly on the defensive side of the field. Moore was able to bring in 11 freshmen to replace a strong senior class.

As a result, the defense is extremely young, including sophomore goaltender Joanna Christman, who is replacing Charap.

“We still have Maddie Nelson and Joanna Christman, who are holding down the defense,” Moore said. “So, I think if we become a little more disciplined and organized, it’ll help push ourselves in the right direction.”

Despite allowing only two goals in three games to open the season, Moore still has not gotten a firm grasp of her defensive unit.

“I’m not really sure if the goal total speaks to [our young defense],” Moore said. “As a coach, I notice certain things we need to work on. I think if we work on those particular things that we’ll be a little more solid and more organized close to the cage.”

Out of that freshman class, Alyssa DeMichael and senior Katie Reynolds have emerged as offensive leaders. As of Sept. 5, after a 5-0 win against Elmira College, DeMichael leads the team with 10 points, tallying five goals.

“I think, offensively, they have a really big impact on the season,” Moore said.

Reynolds led the team last year in points with 24 after tallying 10 goals. While the points are nice, Reynolds said  this season is about the major contributions to the team, such as getting penalty corners. However, after three early goals in the opening of the season, she said that her confidence is high.

“It’s good finding the cage early because it takes me awhile to get there,” Reynolds said. “But once I find the cage, I think it’s easier to get to that point during the season.”

Along with the shutout win over the Soaring Eagles, the Lakers won their first two games against Wells College and Houghton College. The Lakers beat the Express 6-1 and the Highlanders 2-1.

All three games have given the team confidence, especially since the roster is so young, according to Moore.

“We’re young, and I think the fact that [the freshmen] were able to hang in there during the Houghton game to really show what we’re made of is really important,” Moore said.

As for Moore, the .500 hump always looms, as it has for over three decades. But this year, she is pushing the SUNYAC playoffs to her team. A playoff appearance in the SUNYACs would be a first for program history. The Lakers’ most recent playoff journey was in 2002 in the New York State Women’s Collegiate Athletic Association tournament.

Danya Pilgrim was the head coach that season, and Oswego State has cycled through four coaches before hiring Moore last season.

“It’s always there until we reach it. The .500 mark is definitely important,” Moore said. “But I really have my eye on making SUNYACs. That’s the long-term goal.”

Photo by Maria Pericozzi | The Oswegonian