It has not been the ideal start for the Oswego State women’s soccer team. The Lakers are off to a 2-6 start in 2019, after a 6-8-3 record in 2018 which saw them miss the SUNYAC playoffs. One of the positives for the team has been the contributions from their freshmen. Oswego State and head coach Brian McGrane brought in a freshman class of 10 players, two more than the previous season. Eight of these freshmen have seen minutes during the team’s non-league games.
“Typically, we have a few freshmen that play,” McGrane said. “This year, more of them are getting opportunities to play because we have some uncertainty at some positions. They’re inexperienced in the physical part of the game, but they have held their own soccer wise. There’s always a struggle when you play top 25 or regionally ranked teams every game.”
Leading the way for the Lakers freshman group is defenseman Fallon Lewis-Ellison from Rexville, New York. She has logged a full 90 minutes of action in five of the last six games and has played a major role following senior Rachel DiCoco’s torn ACL, which will sideline her for the entire season.
“Fallon has been fantastic since the start of preseason,” McGrane said. “She’s a very hard, tough-nosed player and it’s evident when you watch her play. She’ll win balls in the air, she fights in on tackles.”
Lewis-Ellison’s tough mentality is something that has been noticed by her fellow teammates.
“[She] is a great addition to our team,” senior Grace Mueller said. “She’s really strong, she goes in for a lot of balls that most girls wouldn’t go for. She uses her head a lot. She has really stepped up as a freshman.”
After being thrown into the fire game one against University of Rochester, Lewis-Ellison has come into her own. The increased vote of confidence from her coach has added another level to her game.
“It’s rewarding,” Lewis-Ellison said. “When I came on, I was nervous because it’s a big change from high school to college and I wasn’t sure how I’d adapt to the change. But realizing that I have adapted and I’m capable of doing it is rewarding.”
On the offensive side of the ball, the Lakers added freshmen Katharine Balog and Phyllis Reed. Balog has played in every game this season for Oswego State, starting one. She recorded a goal and two points in the team’s 2-1 win over Houghton College on Aug. 31. It has been her ability to create that has caught the eye of McGrane.
“Kat is a little bit more athletic, has a lot of pace,” McGrane said. “She’s a left-footed player so her ability to serve the ball with her left foot has been great.”
As for Reed, she has gotten playing time more recently. After sitting the first four games, Reed has logged 54, 59, 44 and 45 minutes off the bench.
“I was kind of discouraged at first but, I think I’ve been proving myself in practice and in games,” Reed said. “The fact he’s put me in the past few games has been really great.”
Coming off the bench is a change that several student-athletes have to make. Most were star players at their respective high schools. But for Reed, this has not changed her mindset.
“You’ve got to be ready, no matter what,” Reed said. “Even though I’m used to being a starter, the mentality is the same. You have to give 110% because you never know when you’ll get in. You have to be up to par with the pace of the game and everything.”
Jackie Vigliotti, Julia Gregorio, Emily Applegate and Andrea Hernandez round out the freshmen class that has seen playing time thus far. The tough part for any freshman is adjusting to the changes from high school to collegiate soccer.
“I feel pretty strong about [this class], that’s why we brought them in,” McGrane said. “It’s been an up and down rollercoaster because they’ve got to mentally be on for 180 minutes when you’re playing games back to back. I think fatigue, the pace of the game and the physicality of the game are a few things you can’t train for.”
The on-field presence of the young Lakers core has been impressive. But it is off the field where they have formed a bond.
“It’s been great,” Reed said. “We’re all really close to each other. We hang out every day, even when we don’t have practice or a game, we’re always with each other. It’s been great coming into college together and knowing what each of us is going through. I love the experience with them so far.”
Entering college can often be a daunting task. But it is nice for the Lakers freshmen group to know they always have each other to lean on.
“It’s been pretty cool,” Lewis-Ellison said. “We all come from different backgrounds. I’m from a very small school, so this is a huge change for me. Learning where they came from, why they play the way they do, it’s been a neat experience.”
Although the results have not quite been there thus far for Oswego State, the team feels they are headed in the right direction as SUNYAC play approaches.
“We’re working hard to get better each and every day,” Mueller said. “It’s been about figuring out who to put where on the field and hopefully, we’ll just keep getting better as time goes on.”
Photo by Casey Stone | The Oswegonian
