With the score tied 1-1 against SUNY New Paltz late in the second half last Saturday, Oct. 12, Oswego State needed someone to step up. With 82:14 on the clock, it was fitting that the spark came from senior Anthony Paris. The midfielder rocketed home the eventual game-winning goal on his senior day.

“It’s just typical Anthony,” head coach Dan Kane said. “When you need someone to step up, he’s always more than willing to do it. The team in a lot of ways takes his character, finding a way to do it and finding a way to get it done.”

The goal was Paris’ second on the season and was the perfect end to their home slate. The Lakers finished 5-1-1 at Laker Turf Stadium, including 3-1-1 in SUNYAC play. This is a large improvement on Oswego State’s 8-15-0 record at home the past three seasons. The Lakers also faced two nationally ranked teams in SUNY Cortland and SUNY Oneonta at home, coming away with a tie and a double-overtime loss.

“The guys were talking about putting on performances and doing well at home,” Kane said. “We finished our home slate on a really positive note. We lost to the number five team in the country [against Oneonta 2-1] in double overtime but we showed a lot of guts and determination. It was really meaningful to come away with a win against New Paltz.”

Oswego State is 3-1-1 in SUNYAC play, good enough for fourth place. The top six teams in the conference make the postseason, and Oswego State has not made the postseason since 2014. With SUNY Oneonta clinching the first postseason spot with 15 points, two wins this weekend would guarantee the Lakers a spot in the SUNYAC playoffs. 

“We’ve been talking a lot and we feel like this is the time of year where people start looking at the standings,” Kane said. “Our mentality this week and every week is just staying present, taking one game at a time and one play at a time.”

Even though the phrase all season has been “one game at a time,” it is difficult to not think ahead, especially for the players.

“[Making the playoffs] is obviously in the back of our minds,” senior captain Jack Van Pelt said. “But we’re just trying to focus on one day at a time.”

If Oswego State wants to clinch a postseason berth this weekend, they will have to get past SUNY Potsdam and Plattsburgh State on the road. The Bears are up first on Friday, Oct 12. SUNY Potsdam is 3-10-1 overall this season, including 1-4-0 in conference play. The Bears lost to SUNY Geneseo and The College at Brockport by a combined 8-2 score. Those are two teams the Lakers have defeated this season. Oswego State also defeated SUNY Potsdam 1-0 last season at home. But as Kane and the veterans know, the trip to the north country is never an easy one.

“It’s a difficult trip,” Kane said. “You’ve got a three-hour bus ride and then another two hours to go after Friday’s game. We’re excited about being back on the road and the guys that were here two years ago are anxious to get back there.”

Van Pelt was one of those seniors that made the trip to SUNY Potsdam and Plattsburgh State two years ago where the Lakers lost both games.

“I just tell everyone to remain focused,” Van Pelt said. “We’re working really hard in practice and want to reward ourselves with a win on the weekend. Always keep it positive and simple.”

Perhaps the biggest game this weekend comes on Saturday, Oct. 19 at Plattsburgh State. The Cardinals are off to a stellar 4-1-0 conference record and sit in second place behind SUNY Oneonta. But even with a big game looming Saturday, Kane is focused on Friday.

“We’ve got our full focus on Potsdam,” Kane said. “We might touch on some things Plattsburgh does, but we’ve got our full focus on Potsdam right now.”

Adding some bad blood to that big matchup with Plattsburgh State is the seven-game losing streak Oswego State has against the Cardinals. The Lakers are also 15-32-3 all-time against Plattsburgh State. After ending a 12-game losing streak to SUNY Cortland earlier this season, Plattsburgh State is the next big losing streak the Lakers want to cross off.

“Me personally, I’ve always had a big rivalry with Plattsburgh,” Van Pelt said. “I definitely want to beat them. We always want to beat them. This year, we’re coming at them strong.”

With a combination of veteran leadership and freshman scoring, the Lakers can have more confidence going into this weekend than in years past. Two of the team’s top four point scorers this season are freshmen. Steven Rojas has tallied two goals and four assists on the year for eight total points. Kyle Scalzo’s four goals give him eight points as well. All of Scalzo’s minutes this season have come off the bench, which is a new look for him.

“It’s pretty different,” Scalzo said. “I did start every game in high school, but we’re part of a family here. I try to come in and do whatever I can for the guys, especially because it was senior day.”

On that senior day against SUNY New Paltz, Scalzo scored the Lakers’ first goal in the first half. The freshman now has three goals in SUNYAC play after tallying two in the team’s win over SUNY Geneseo.

“They’ve told us all year about how important SUNYAC play is,” Scalzo said. “We’ve got to take one game and one practice at a time.”

The culture is beginning to change for Oswego State men’s soccer, especially with Kane and impact freshmen such as Scalzo. But that focus still remains on one game at a time.

“We don’t think too far ahead, but we do plan to win every game,” Scalzo said.

Photo by William Rogers| The Oswegonian