Another season is officially in the books for the Oswego State Lakers women’s hockey team as its season ended last Saturday against Plattsburgh State in the NEWHL Championship game for the second time in three seasons. 

The Lakers finished their season with a record of 16-7-4 with a conference record of 10-4-4, helping the team finish second in the NEWHL standings.

Heading into this season the Lakers hoped to get another shot at a NEWHL title and came very close to accomplishing that goal as a team. Head coach Diane Dillon credited the senior class for their role in making the championship game.

“We certainly hoped overall to make a run for the league title,” Dillon said. “We wanted to get back to the championship game, which we did. I know our senior class was really fixated on getting back there. We were thrilled with some of the results the team had and certainly some of the personal accolades.”

The season was filled with a lot of ups and downs from the very start for Oswego State. At the beginning of the season, there were more ups as the team got off to a strong start, only losing four games until the end of the fall semester. Senior captain Kate Randazzo credited how the entire team was ready to go heading into this season and that played a part in their early success.

“We were well prepared as a team,” Randazzo said. “We had a good preseason and a good first couple of weeks with the coaches. I think everyone was on the same page and motivated to do well.”

As the season progressed and the new year began the Lakers continued their winning style of play, but then began to feel the downs that can happen to any team as they went six games in a row without winning a game. Things began to reflect what happened last season as the teams play began to fade from their strong start. Dillon was never worried about this team’s style of play fading, as the roster was different this season.

“Every team is a different team,” Dillon said. “This year we had a very different makeup of players, especially with having so many freshman contributing and having only one goaltender. The lineup was set and everybody had to play. Plus, everybody was truly a part of the solution.”

As the Lakers began to face adversity the team was able to turn things around in the month of February by winning six games in a row before heading into the NEWHL playoffs. Dillon credits the team getting better from the leadership throughout the entire team.

“We got better at what we do,” Dillon said. “Those losses and ties were certainly a kick in the pants to get us going, but the team really didn’t change anything. That led to things starting to come together and the confidence really melded together in addition to how close this team has been this year. That’s just a testament to the leadership of this team.”

Oswego State’s strong play at the end of the regular season resulted in the team earning the second seed in the NEWHL playoffs and a home playoff game against Morrisville State, where its winning ways continued with a 1-0 victory.

This set the Lakers up for a rematch against their arch rivals Plattsburgh State for the NEWHL Championship. Even with the Lakers playing tremendous hockey before this matchup, it was simply too much for Oswego State to handle as the Cardinals won in dominating fashion by a score of 6-1. When discussing Plattsburgh State, Dillon gave them credit where it was due as they have been very successful at the expense of Oswego State.

“Historically they have been extremely effective,” Dillon said. “They’re successful and  the model that they have works. Success breeds success and people want to be a part of a successful program so that helps them attract a lot of good talent, but they put the work in. You have to give it to them. They have been number one for a long time and continue to hold that position. That’s what’s most impressive is the consistency they have shown for years.”

Randazzo along with freshman Megan Teachout and goaltender Rachael Farmer were all named to the NEWHL Second Team All-Conference as a result of their impressive play on the ice as individuals. When thinking back and evaluating the entire season Randazzo discussed how fun this season was as a whole and how great her teammates were.

“It’s hard to put the entire season into words,” Randazzo said. “It was a good season and we had a good time together as a team. The best part was the group we had this year. We played a lot of good games and enjoyed practice.”

Photo by Nicole Hube | The Oswegonian