The Oswego State women’s soccer team looks to get back in the playoff picture this season, as it was just one point shy of getting the final playoff spot in the SUNYAC conference last season. This season, the Lakers are off to a good start, as their record is now 4-2-1, and one of those wins was in conference play against SUNY Cortland.
After losing the last match to the No. 23-ranked team in NCAA Div. III, the University of Rochester, last week, the Lakers kicked off their first SUNYAC game against the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons. Some outstanding defense was performed all throughout, but one cannot forget athlete of the week Emma Allen. Allen made four clutch saves in the contest as the Lakers went on to win by a score of 1-0.
Late in the game, some miscommunication between the Red Dragon defenders led to a foul called in the penalty box. Fortunately for the Lakers, Syracuse native Mackenzie Schaffner scored the lone goal for Oswego State. Schaffner seized the opportunity by sneaking in a low-roller in the bottom right corner of the net. It was the sophomore’s second goal of the season and her third in a Laker uniform.
Oswego State will remain at home this weekend as it hosts SUNY New Paltz on Friday and Oneonta on Saturday. The team then embarks on a five-game road trip, the first four counting toward its SUNYAC record. Oct. 5 and 6 will be spent up north with meetings against Plattsburgh State and SUNY Potsdam, respectively. The Lakers then travel west to face the Bengals of Buffalo State on Oct. 12. Oswego’s four-game journey concludes on Oct.13. as they face the SUNY Fredonia Blue Devils. To close out the regular season, the Lakers will have home-field advantage, starting with The College at Brockport at 3 p.m. on Oct. 19. and last year’s SUNYAC champions, SUNY Geneseo, on Oct 20.
“This season, we just have to talk more,” Allen said. “If we’re down, we have to keep our heads up and keep fighting. If we’re ahead, then we have to keep our foot on the gas pedal and keep grinding it out until the clock hits zero.”
The Lakers lost a total of eight seniors last year, including leading scorers Emma Geyer and Alexa Restante, and on the defensive side of the ball, Sarah Grupp. However, that does not change head coach Brian McGrane’s confidence level with this year’s squad.
“I like our team a lot,” McGrane said. “We’re young, athletic, and we’re more technical. I like our chances because I believe we can do something special in the SUNYAC conference this season and get back in the playoffs.”
This year, the Lakers welcome a total of eight freshmen on the roster (Khassandra Muniz, Maggie Riordan, Ashley Hewko, Brooke Fillmore, Graisa Madden, Liz Myers, Olivia Williams and Taylor Cimino). All eight freshmen have seen a lot of playing time in all of their non-conference games and look to make a big impact in SUNYAC play.
“The freshmen have been helping us a lot so far,” senior midfielder Audrey Burbidge said. “As of now, we’re in the rebuilding process, but we’re working together, and were understanding how each other plays.”
Photo by Austin Dearborn | The Oswegonian
