Oswego State plays its second game of the week on Saturday afternoon when it welcomes in Williams College to the Marano Campus Center. The Ephs are ranked No. 10 in both major polls, USCHO and D3Hockey. The all-time series between the two teams is a 3-2-1 advantage in favor of Oswego State, but Williams College has won the last two meetings. The first two matchups in the series took place in Oswego, but the previous four were held in Williamstown. The last two meeting were blowout wins in favor of the Ephs, with scores of 5-0 and 7-1.

Last season, in those two games, both former goaltender Amber Samonek and senior Mikaela Ditonto played after Mariah Madrigal went down with an injury the weekend before.

This game is a bit of a weird one for the Lakers. After a NEWHL loss to SUNY Cortland on Wednesday night, they now have two non-league games this weekend. The games present a big challenge and one final tuneup before the final stretch with one more SUNY Cortland game and a weekend series against SUNY Potsdam. With the Lakers trending in the wrong direction, this weekend could be a big confidence boost.

Last Time Out

Oswego State

The Lakers lost a heart-breaker on Wednesday night at SUNY Cortland. In a back-and-forth effort, Oswego State would take a 2-1 lead into the third period but would allow two unanswered goals to lose 3-2. The Lakers now find themselves in fourth place in the NEWHL standings, although they have played two fewer games than third place SUNY Cortland. Oswego State was outshot 41-31 on the night, as Rachael Farmer made 38 saves in a return to her former school. Sara Cruise and Emma Morisette tallied goals for the Lakers in the losing effort.

Williams College

Williams College tied Trinity College, 3-3, to finish the weekend series. The first game against Trinity College ended in a 0-0 tie, and Saturday’s game also yielded no winner. The Ephs jumped out to a 3-0 behind two goals from Gabi Montembeault. However, Trinity College would battle back with the game-tying goal scored with just 37 seconds remaining in the third period. The weekend was a slight disappointment, as Trinity College came into the series with just an 8-9-1 record. The two games in Oswego this weekend represent the middle of a six-game road trip for the Ephs.

By The Numbers

Record (Conference)

OSW: 9-8-3 (4-7-2)

WIL: 13-4-2 (8-4-2)

Goals (Per Game)

OSW: 43 (2.2)

WIL: 57 (2.85)

Shots (Per Game)

OSW: 631 (31.6)

WIL: 681 (34.0)

Power Play (Percentage)

OSW: 6-77 (7.8%)

WIL: 13-48 (27.1%)

Keys to the Game

Oswego State

The Lakers need to stay out of the penalty box. They have committed 5.4 penalties per game and they cannot afford to be in the box against a good Williams College power play unit. Oswego State committed four penalties on Wednesday, while only drawing one. Williams College may be the second most efficient power play unit the Lakers see behind the dominant Plattsburgh State unit. The Ephs have converted 27.1% of their opportunities.

Williams College

The Ephs need to finish strong. So many times this year it has been an early lead that is quickly erased in the final moments. Last weekend, it was a 3-0 lead that the Ephs would eventually blow, ending in a 3-3 tie. On the road especially, it is important to finish strong.

Players to Watch

OSW: Sara Cruise

Cruise is now second on the team with 11 points, including three in the last two games. Her goal against SUNY Cortland tied her for the team lead with five. With an all-freshmen second line tonight, she will be expected to anchor it.

WIL: Meghan Halloran

Halloran has done it all for the Ephs. The sophomore is a huge reason why Williams College currently sits as the 10th best team in the nation. Her 15 goals rank 11th in the country, and her 16 assists put her as the nation’s 14th best. Halloran will be the key for a Williams College team eager to go back in the win column.

Final Thoughts

This afternoon’s matchup will be a tough one for the Lakers. Williams College is 3-0-2 in their last five games, but have not lost since Jan. 18. Lakers freshman goalie Cassie Shokar will be starting in net and will have her hands full with a potent Ephs offense. Oswego State has to find some source of offense to counter the Williams College attack.

This game may not mean a ton in the standings, but it is a good challenge for head coach Diane Dillon’s Lakers. Although they have been on a slide recently, they have shown resilience in every game. Even if this afternoon does not end in the victory column, it is important to draw some positives against one of the nation’s best.