A season that had the Oswego State field hockey team get off to a hot start, ended in underwhelming fashion. 

After starting the season going 6-2 through eight games, in the Lakers last nine games they were 2-7 ending with a mediocre 8-9 record. Even with the losing record, the Lakers were still able to break the program’s record for total goals in a season with 59. It is even more surprising that the Lakers ended under .500 as they outscored their opponents 59-30, as well as holding opponents to only 1.76 goals per game compared to the Lakers 3.47. 

The reason for this large difference in goals and goals per game is due to the fact that when the Lakers scored, they scored in bunches. The Lakers also had seven shutouts throughout the season, and when they did lose, the game was either high scoring and close like their 4-3 loss to Utica or one goal that decides the game like the 1-0 loss to SUNY Geneseo. Against SUNYAC opponents, the Lakers had a hard time winning close games which is another reason for their 8-9 record.

The reason this year’s Oswego State roster was able to complete seven shutouts during the season was due to junior goaltender Erica Scheblein. Scheblein was a force in goal for the Lakers totaling 119 saves and a 1.70 goals allowed average. She was able to keep the Lakers in every game they played. The most impressive game Scheblein played all season was the 27 save performance against SUNY Brockport where the Lakers were able to come out on top 4-3 in a shootout. Even when Scheblein gave up goals in this game, her teammates were able to pick her up with goals of their own and keep them in the game. 

The Lakers were led by a trio of players this season, junior Kaitlyn Mastracco, junior Kacie Simzer and senior Alyssa DeMichael. All three of them have had experience playing with the team in the past and they brought their veteran expertise and playstyle to the new players this season. Being veterans was more important than ever for this team as they had to bring everyone together after not being able to play during the hiatus. 

Mastracco had the most dominant season of the three, racking up a total of 35 points throughout the season on 15 goals and five assists. She also played the most minutes out of the entire team with 1,012 minutes through the entire 17 game season. If you add up the amount of minutes there are in 17, 60 minute games, you would get a total of 1,020 minutes, which means that over the course of the entire season, Mastracco sat a total of 8 minutes. That goes to show how important she was to this Lakers team that head coach Heather Moore felt she was too important of a player to take out. 

Simzer also had a productive season for the Lakers with 17 total points on eight goals and one assist. Simzer was not only important on the field but off the field as well acting as a strong veteran presence for the younger players. DeMichael was in a similar position as a senior on the team. She finished the season with 17 points on seven goals and three assists. Both players were a mainstay in the starting lineup as both started every game during the season.

Another player that played a big role during the season was freshman Nancy Pagliaroli. Although she did not start a game for the Lakers, Pagliaroli was able to accrue 14 points on seven goals coming off the bench. If she can put up numbers like those coming off the bench and only playing a total of 113 minutes, Moore should be excited to see what she can do in the starting rotation. 

Moore also has Kaitlyn Ahle on the roster who, just like Pagliaroli, did not play as much as their top three players, but did have an impact when they were on the field. Ahle played in 15 games totaling 10 points with three goals and four assists. 

A big downfall of the Lakers this season was their inability to win close games down the stretch versus SUNY Geneseo and SUNY Oneonta, two SUNYAC rivals, as well as other games throughout the season.

With the season at its end, the Lakers are going to get back to work and make the necessary changes for next season. 

Photo provided by Oswego State Athletics