With only one game left in the regular season for the Oswego State women’s hockey team, the Lakers will look to end on one last high note against SUNY Canton. The Lakers are on a five game win streak, and the freshmen class for this team has played a big role in the Lakers’ success.
The Oswego State freshmen class consists of Megan Teachout, Kyleigh Grugin, Morgan Shines, Mia Conboy and Maura McKeown who all play forward. As a group, the freshmen Lakers have contributed a combined total of 58 points so far. Head coach Diane Dillon discussed how this freshmen classes scoring has set them apart from previous classes.
“We’ve had some pretty successful freshmen classes, but this class in particular has really hit the ground running,” Dillon said. “The freshmen all play and contribute. This freshmen class has certainly been putting up numbers and helping us succeed by popping some pucks in the net.”
A lot of the scoring has come from Teachout, who currently leads the team in scoring with 12 goals and 14 assists. Coming into her first season, Teachout did not expect to produce for the Lakers at such a high rate, let alone be the team’s leading scorer.
“It’s kind of crazy,” Teachout said. “Honestly, I just wanted to perform well and have good statistics, but I wasn’t expecting a lot. I thought I was going to be on the first or second line and maybe be top three.”
Dillon, however, was not surprised by Teachout’s immediate impact on the team and sees huge potential in her.
“We certainly knew that Megan is an incredibly talented young lady,” Dillon said. “The transition from high school to college hockey can sometimes be a bit of a challenge, but Megan really has responded very, very well. For a skinny kid, she puts a heavy shot on the net. If she continues to develop and work hard, she has a chance to become an All-American.”
When talking about the freshmen class Kate Randazzo spoke about how great Teachout is, and how her scoring has brought the Lakers to another level offensively.
“She’s really fun to play with,” Randazzo said. “As a player, she’s super offensive and that’s a really big plus for our team because we were missing that last season.”
When discussing the other freshmen, she pointed out how hard-working they all have been this year. Grugin shows that on the ice every game with her toughness, something Dillon sees in Randazzo.
“[Grugin] is a real grinder,” Dillon said. “For a kid that is not very big, she is tough as nails. Her speed is deceptive and has helped her be a force on the forecheck by really disrupting things.”
This has helped Grugin’s linemate in Shines get plenty of offensive chances, especially last weekend when she scored a goal against Buffalo State. Dillon credits the freshman’s ability to read the play.
“Shines has an extremely high hockey IQ and is a very versatile player.” Dillon said. “She’s been on our top lines and has helped us in power play situations. She has a work ethic that mirrors some of the seniors, and as she goes forward in her career here that is only going to intensify.”
When discussing McKeown and Conboy, Dillon talked about the leadership they have both brought to the team and how great personalities both players have in the locker room. Dillon sees a strong sophomore season for both players next year as they continue to work hard and develop as freshmen.
When discussing the entire freshmen class, Dillon has been greatly impressed by the work ethic they have brought to the team while being team-first players. All the freshmen have bought into the Oswego State culture and brought their own style to the team that has led to their contributions this season.
“Nothing phases them,” Dillon said. “They were immediately thrown in the lineup and have responded. They have melded very well into a team that has some very strong senior personalities and brought another dimension to the team.”
Photo by Casey Stone | The Oswegonian
