After a massive win against Nazareth College on Tuesday, Oct. 12 the Oswego State field hockey team improved to 7-6 and snapped a four-game losing streak. 

The Lakers have three key SUNYAC matchups in the coming weeks and after this win, they are in a spot where they can end their season strong and make a run at the SUNYAC playoffs.

The Lakers started their season off winning six of their first eight games before losing four consecutive, with three of those being decided by two goals or less. Now sitting at 7-6, they will face off against SUNYAC rivals SUNY Brockport, SUNY Oneonta and SUNY Cortland in the next two weeks. 

This three-game stretch is critical for the Lakers, who have a 1-2 record in conference play, but gives them a great opportunity to make up some ground. 

The win against Nazareth was important for the Lakers, not only because they ended their losing streak, but also because they had a strong offensive showing after back-to-back scoreless affairs. Senior Alyssa DeMichael has her sights set on making the SUNYAC playoffs, and believes that if they can keep playing to their ability, they can reach that goal.

“We know we have to keep pushing harder and harder,” DeMichael said. “It’s going to be high intensity once we get closer to qualifying.”

Senior Leah Romanowski also believes that her team can reach the playoffs and that the momentum has shifted their way after the win on Oct. 12.

“We’re constantly chatting about our end goal, and that’s to get to the playoffs,” Romanowski said. “The momentum definitely shifted after Nazareth, I feel like we really needed a more offensive game and I think we’re really headed in the right direction.”

The Lakers four-game losing streak was certainly a bump in the road and with three of the losses being by two goals or less, it stings even more. Now with the losing streak behind them, head coach Heather Moore said that her team can use those losses as motivation and as a way to improve as a group.

“We use them as motivation, and we also use them for feedback,” Moore said. “Even though it did not go the way we wanted, there has to be something that we can take away from it and tweak as we go into our next games.”

Conference games always have added intensity to them but for the Lakers, this stretch will also determine whether they reach the playoffs or not. Preparation is always important when it comes to facing an opponent and for some teams, there are different ways to prepare and study. DeMichael noted that the team practices as if they were playing against their upcoming matchup, saying they are comfortable with their style of play when the time comes. 

“We watch the film for every team we play, for example, we are playing Brockport this week so we’ve been watching tape on them,” DeMichael said. “We focus on their setup, their corners and try to practice like we’re their team so it’s not new to us when we take the field.”

The Lakers finish their season with three of the final four games being on the road, and for some teams that could be difficult especially when they are making a playoff run. Romanowski does not believe that it will be all that difficult and that it can actually be a way to calm their nerves before a game.

“Honestly, road games are my favorite because we bring a speaker with us on the bus, we do our hair on the bus too, and in the locker room to hype us up,” Romanowski said. “I think that really gets pumped up. It’s a business trip.”

DeMichael and Romanowski were both part of Moore’s first recruiting class at Oswego State. Now with them and the rest of their class heading towards the end of their final season, emotions will certainly run high in these upcoming weeks. Games that have a lot of emotion can make teams and players want to win more than they already do, and Moore believes that her team will feel those emotions but also understand what needs to be done before the regular season concludes.

“For the seniors, you definitely start to realize that the clock is running out, so you may try harder here and there,” Moore said. “But I think as a group, we understand that there’s a certain number of games that remain and we support the overall cause of continuing to win games and make the SUNYAC playoffs.”

The Lakers have been stellar on defense this season, shutting opponents’ offenses down. The team has a plus 34 goal differential this season, outsourcing their opponents by a total score of 52-18. In their wins, they have outscored opponents 45-0 and the most goals they’ve conceded is four, all of these are just astonishing statistics. Moore isn’t someone who reads into statistics all that much but is aware of how strong the defense has been.

“To be honest, I’m not super into statistics, what’s most important to me is seeing the progress of our defense,” Moore said. “Overall, the ability to be able to watch them play and improve every game is more important to me.”

A major component of the Lakers top-notch defense has been the play of Romanowski this season. She has done not only a good job on defense but has contributed on the offensive side of things as well. Training and preparation have a major part in Romanowski’s success this season.

“I’ve been training with players from the men’s and women’s national teams which has helped me with my offense and defense,” Romanowski said. “As a defender, you still have to have those offensive skills. Even just watching random people on the internet has helped me a lot to be a better defender.”

The Lakers take on SUNY Brockport on Oct. 15, as they look to continue their journey to make the SUNYAC playoffs.

Photo provided by Oswego State Athletics