Following a win against SUNY Potsdam on Friday night, the Oswego State women’s hockey team travels to SUNY Potsdam for its final regular season game. The Lakers have 12 points in the conference, tied with the Bears, but have one more game played.

Last Time Out

Oswego State and SUNY Potsdam played the third game of the four-game regular season series. Following the Lakers’ 4-1 victory, ending their four-game losing streak, the season record between the two teams is now 1-1-1. The last time these two teams played at Potsdam, the Bears were victorious 3-2.

In Friday’s matchup, Oswego State had four different goal scorers. Sara Cruise and Eryn Stewart each scored their sixth goal of the season. Katelynn Ferguson scored her fourth and Leah Czerwinski added the insurance empty-net goal. Rylie Murray was the lone goal scorer for SUNY Potsdam.

While Mikaela Ditonto played the opening three minutes for Oswego State for senior night, Rachael Farmer saw all the action making 18 saves. Samantha White stopped 21 — including 13 in the first period alone — for SUNY Potsdam.

SUNY Potsdam was the only team able to score on the special teams, going 1-3 on the man-advantage. The Lakers did not capitalize on their single attempt on the power play. For the season, they are now at 6.8 percent, the sixth worst in NCAA Div. III women’s hockey.

Brief History of Lakers and Bears

Since Dec. 1, 1975, Oswego State and SUNY Potsdam have squared off 46 times. Saturday’s matchup will be No. 47. SUNY Potsdam holds the advantage at 26-15-5 overall, and the advantage at SUNY Potsdam with 7-4-2 record while on the Bears’ ice — those games are since 1983, as no location was provided before that.

The last time Oswego State won at Potsdam was on Jan. 28, 2017, where the Lakers won 3-2. No current Laker scored a goal during the game, but former captain Olivia Ellis did score a goal in the game. Delphine Leonard of SUNY Potsdam also scored.

Leah Czerwinski has three goals against the Bears this season, one per game. Eryn Stewart also has three points (1g, 2a), and Natalie Giglio has two points (1g [SH], 1a). Rachael Farmer has played in two of the three games, allowing two goals on a combined 38 saves. Cassie Shokar played the third game, allowing 3 goals on 33 shots.

By the Numbers

RECORD (conference) [vs. each other / this season]

OSW: 10-11-3 (5-8-2) [15-26-5 / 1-1-1]

POT: 8-12-3 (5-7-2) [26-15-5 / 1-1-1]

GOALS (per game) [vs. each other this season]

OSW: 50 (2.1) [7 / 2.3]

POT: 38 (1.7) [5 / 1.6]

SHOTS (per game) [vs. each other this season]

OSW: 708 (29.5) [84 / 28.0]

POT: 533 (23.2) [73 / 24.3]

POWER PLAY (percentage) [vs. each other this season]

OSW: 6-88 (6.8%) [0-7 / 0.0%]

POT: 14-99 (14.1%) [2-13 / 15.4%]

Players to Watch

Oswego State: Sara Cruise

Following an extremely fast and speedy performance, Sara Cruise was able to score her sixth goal of the season, tied for the team lead. Her speed helps her as a power forward, getting past players while protecting the puck with a lot of strength. Expect Cruise to keep it going, trying to find one more potential gear before the playoffs begin next week.

SUNY Potsdam: Alexa Pfeiffer

Oswego State is not normally a team that gets a ton of goals, only averaging 2.1 per game. After Samantha White played yesterday for the Bears, the Lakers have a new goaltender to face in Alexa Pfeiffer. However, she must be on her toes. Oswego State knows what is on the line: from hosting a playoff game, to potentially traveling to Plattsburgh State for the first round. It is the same situation for SUNY Potsdam. After the strong goal-scoring game by the Lakers, expect Pfeiffer to be locked in.

Prediction

Oswego State and SUNY Potsdam both want to avoid traveling to Plattsburgh State for the first round of the playoffs. Depending on this game’s outcome, as well as SUNY Potsdam’s game against Buffalo State on Sunday, either team could potentially host a game as the second seed in the NEWHL. It is a cliche that is used all too much, but the fate is in either team’s hands.

Following the Lakers’ four-goal performance, and ending their four-game losing streak, they are riding a lot of momentum as they head into the Maxcy Ice Arena. The Bears are now on a four-game losing streak with one more game after today.

Rachael Farmer will get her second straight start after Cassie Shokar started the last three against SUNY Cortland and Williams College, earning a well-deserved rest for the final push toward the playoffs. She looked extremely strong against SUNY Potsdam, stopping a lot of odd-man rushes and a lot of shots right in the slot.

As for a prediction, Oswego State will take this one 3-2 over SUNY Potsdam.