As the month of March continues and spring sports teams begin there 2022 season, the Oswego State women’s hockey team reflects on their 2021-22 season after falling to SUNY Cortland in the NEWHL semi-final game. The 1-0 overtime game was a dagger as the Lakers played outstanding in front of sophomore netminder Joanna Hiebert who made 21 saves including 5 during the overtime period.

“The game was as expected,” Digby said. “It was a very tight game and we let the nerves of the game get to us in the 1st period. You hope when you get to the end of the year that your goaltending can bail you out and when Jo[anna Hiebert] was called upon she did just that. As the game went on, our game got better, and we played our best hockey.”

The Lakers finished with an overall record of 16-8-1 and a conference record of 13-4-1. Those conference losses came against the Plattsburgh State Cardinals and then one to the Red Dragons of SUNY Cortland, the two teams that would eventually play for the NEWHL conference championship in North Country.

Oswego State was once again one of the better teams in the conference, salifying themselves as a team to beat under new head coach Mark Digby. Digby took over the program from Dianne Dillion and this was his first season behind the bench alongside new assistant coach Megan Quinn. For Digby, the program was built on a solid foundation. The next step was bringing players in that fit that culture.

“You want players who are going to be welcomed here,” Digby said. “You want players to want to be here, so they play to their full potential.”

That culture was represented by the leadership on ice this season for the Lakers. Captain Philomena Teggart and alternate captain Aislinn McAleer have been with the program for five seasons and sticked around for another year to lead the team out of their canceled season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Those two individuals, plus the returners from the junior class showed the 17 newcomers what Oswego State hockey was all about.

“As the year went on and the newer players got comfortable due to the older group of players,” Digby said. “I credit both groups, the returning players for being welcoming and guiding the group and the younger players willing to do that and grow as a group. That’s why the team got better as the year moved on.” 

The on-ice product featured a high-powered offense backed by a defensive core that had young, solid goaltending. On the offensive side of the puck, the Lakers constantly out shot opponents and averaged 3.1 goals per game. The Lakers found offense from all four lines this season, but transfer Ariella Haas and Morgan Shines lead the team on the statistics sheet.

Haas racked up 21 points this season, more than any other Oswego State player. The transfer from Elmira College was spoke highly of by Digby for her leadership and guidance to her teammates earlier in the season. The Laker was four points away from matching her season high total of 25 from her freshman year.

Shines finished second in points with 19 total and tied Kyleigh Grugin in goals with a tally of 9. The Illinois native also was a key factor in the faceoff circle for the Lakers this past season. Shines lead the way in that regards alongside other centers like Rachel Corbett and Mia Conboy.

On the other end of the ice, the Oswego State defense saw a new group of players stepping into the defensive core. After graduating defenseman and a goaltender in the 2019-20 season, the Lakers saw a younger core on the defensive side of the puck. That core limited opponents to averaging 1.8 goals per game.

Chyne Kennedy and Amanda Zenstein, two transfers to the program, found themselves in the defensive core for the Lakers this season. Returners Philomena Teggart and Avery Webster guided the team on the defensive end. The Lakers were able to control play in their own zone and in the neutral zone regroup due to the performance from their top 4 defenseman.

In between the pipes, Oswego State saw three new goaltenders join the roster for the campaign. Starter Joanna Hibert fit right into the role and salified herself as the number one for a majority of the season. The Michigan native would give some time up to backup Bryn White who both put up similar numbers while in the net for Oswego State.

“There was not time to learn the game on day one, we needed to be good from the start,” Digby said. “I thought the two of them handled the pressure well. Both had successful seasons and kept us in games for most of the year. It is a good sign for things to come.”

The Lakers have a strong core coming back for the 2022-23 season on both offense and defense. Although the leadership duo of Teggart and McAleer is graduating, the Oswego State squad has a strong junior class that can pick up where the two left off.

“It is kind of two different stories with the captains being here for what feels like ten years now and Kennedy joining the team this season,” Digby said. “You need leadership to be it’s best in the fall when some players have not had a workout, team meeting, or practice. I thought the two of them got the ball rolling in the right way and getting the players to do things our way. For Kennedy, she was able to come out of her shell later in the season and bring a vocal presence in the locker room.”

The team will take a few weeks off before getting back in the weight room for off-ice training. In terms of the coaching staff, head coach Mark Digby will head to the office to find the next class of Oswego State women’s hockey players.

Photo By William Rogers | The Oswegonian