After a seesaw 2017 campaign and the loss of two top goal scorers, the Oswego State women’s soccer team looks to improve on a 7-7-1 record. With Emma Geyer and Alexa Restante both graduated, Oswego State turns toward new senior leadership to help the team get to the next level. Senior midfielder Audrey Burbidge will be forced to carry more of the offensive load after an impressive seven points and team-high 26 shots on goal in the 2017 season.
“Me and Chloe [Lonergan] feel like [becoming leaders is] a big deal because we are the only original seniors from our class,” Burbidge said. “We just want to get everyone to work together to be as best as we can.”
The Lakers’ offense will also rely on sophomore forward Lynsey Roth and junior midfielder Corinna Chambers, who scored the equalizing goal in the team’s home opener against Lasell College. Another offensive force will be midfielder Mackenzie Schaffner, who scored the game-winner against the Lasers.
Turning toward the defensive side of the pitch, the Lakers feature experience and talent at both defense and goalie. Seniors Lonergan and Kassi Jones, alongside juniors Rachel DiCocco and Grace Mueller provide, a stable front for goaltender Emma Allen. After starting all 15 games her sophomore season, Allen posted 67 saves and a 0.807 save percentage in 2017 to go along with three shutouts. Now as an upperclassman, Allen’s role has expanded to becoming a leader on the field.
“[As a leader, I] just [want] to get us ready for games, get the hype up,” Allen said. “Coming out on the field and ready to go, but also at the same time helping out my teammates if they need to be picked up if something doesn’t go right.”
The Lakers will certainly need her leadership between the pipes if this team is to make a postseason appearance.
Head coach Brian McGrane enters his 12th season at the helm of the Oswego State women’s soccer team. After qualifying for the SUNYAC tournament in 2015 and 2016, the Lakers just missed the postseason in 2017. Despite losing two talented seniors in Geyer and Restante, McGrane is confident in his younger players.
“We’ve got some young players that are just as talented but haven’t been around as long. It’s going to be a tall task, but I think as the season gets going, they’ll be able to do really well,” McGrane said. “As young and inexperienced this team is, we have the talent.”
One thing the team failed to do last season was take advantage of playing games at home. Oswego State was just 3-2 at Laker Turf.
“We have to win at home. I didn’t think we did that [last year],” McGrane said. “We dropped Potsdam and Plattsburgh at home which kills you when you only have four home games and five on the road.”
In an ultra-competitive conference, the Lakers found themselves just outside of the top six teams that qualify for the SUNYAC tournament. This season, however, McGrane wants the opposite to be the case.
“Hopefully at the end of October, we’re sitting one through six and we already have ourselves in the tournament,” McGrane said. “Realistically, any school in our conference can be seven through 10 as well. We’ve got to be able to win at home and be able to steal a couple on the road.”
The Lakers have all the pieces to succeed in 2018 and have already started the campaign with a 2-1 road victory against Lasell, a team that made the NCAA Div. III tournament a season ago. With an offense that can put the ball on goal, an experienced defense and a solid keeper, there is no reason the Lakers cannot return to 2016 form. Losing two top goal scorers is never ideal, but this Lakers team has the depth to make up for it.
Graphic by Shea McCarthy | The Oswegonian
