The Oswego State women’s field hockey team has had a rough couple of seasons, something the team looks to change when they take the field next. After going 4-12 in 2019, something needed to change. 

One of the leaders on this team and a potential impact player in the future is junior Emily Hunter. Hunter feels that despite their comradery off the field, there were still things that needed some work on the field.

“Overall, we have a lot of talented people with a lot of good stick skills,” Hunter said. “I think one thing we could work on is the scoring and the offensive part of the team because that is one thing we struggled with for sure.”

The Lakers were not aggressive on the scoring end. Just 33 shots hit the back of the net all season, but the second leading scorer, junior Alyssa DeMichael would like to see communication improve, feeling it is the biggest piece this team is missing.

“We definitely didn’t have enough communication,” DeMichael said. “Just communication and not everyone being on the same page. Not everyone would know the same play as another player if someone came into the game.”

While the communication was not a strong suit for the team, it really stemmed from a bigger issue. The lack of leadership according to junior Jenna Rogers. 

“The leadership wasn’t the best because we had a very young team,” Rogers said. “The communication between the upperclassmen and the lower classmen wasn’t great. Most of our starters were freshman or sophomores, so we were just learning how to gel together and play at the collegiate level.”

After their season was canceled due to COVID-19, the upperclassmen on this team made it apparent that they did not want to let the future of this program slip through their fingertips. With incoming freshmen arriving at the strangest time possible, it was hard to make sure they were all acclimated to the team and Oswego State.

“We try to interact with them online,” Rogers said. “We do team workouts with them every Wednesday through Zoom and that is a good way to match a name to a face. We are always asking them questions and assuring them that they can be comfortable talking to us whenever they need to.”

In an effort to improve team chemistry off the field, the team relies on a Google Classroom link with special workouts and challenges to complete. For example, one challenge may be to go on a run and take a picture with a street sign. It is not necessarily a competition but it keeps the competitive edge alive while keeping things fresh and fun.

Rogers, Hunter and DeMichael are looked at as impact players for the next season, and the biggest thing for them to focus on is leadership. For Hunter, she stresses staying fit and active during the offseason because she feels that that is the best way to prepare for a possible spring season.

“Since we have so much time right now until next season, we should focus on getting in shape and the fitness component,” Hunter said. “When we have the resources to get into the weightroom and start lifting, it always helps our team. That and working on our athleticism will be the biggest way we can prepare our team for next year. 

For DeMichael, she wants to help motivate her teammates by making sure everyone has the same drive and will to win that she does.

“We can get everyone motivated to want to be successful and to want to win,” DeMichael said. “I feel like in the past, we were a little separated from the sport. If we get everyone to focus on field hockey and their role on the team, stay motivated and go out and do the best that they can every practice, that will definitely help.”

Photo by Nicole Hube | The Oswegonian