The Oswego State field hockey team has gotten off to the start they wanted, winning their first two games of the season.
However, they had a similar trend at the beginning of last season, winning their first four games by a wide margin, then going 4-9 in their last 13 games of the season.
Last year, the Lakers were led by Kaitlyn Mastracco who put up an astounding 35 points with 15 goals and five assists, while starting in all 17 games of the course of the season. Kacie Simzer and Alyssa DeMichael tied for second in points on the team, with 17. DeMichael scored seven goals with three assists in 2021 while Simzer had eight goals and one assist.
Senior Megan Delaney earned the first SUNYAC player of the week for field hockey for her play in the first two games. Delaney has already tallied three goals and five assists, almost surpassing the Simzer and DeMichael’s season total in points. Keeping up her offensive output will be a key in keeping the team afloat as the season rolls along.
Although the Lakers greatly outscored their opponents, 3.47 goals per game to 1.76 goals per game last season, they scored one or no goals in a game six times. Also, they shut out their opponents in seven of their eight victories. There was no in between for the Lakers, they either piled on goals or were held without them. The team is going to look for more consistency in the offensive zone as they start to face SUNYAC opponents.
Goaltender Erica Scheblein was also a really big factor in the team’s play last year, not only producing seven shutouts, but also having a 1.70 goals allowed average, saving 119 shots and only allowing 30 goals throughout the entire season. Scheblein really impressed last year, and she looks to continue her dominance in net this season, and she has. In Oswego’s first two games of the season Scheblein has yet to allow a goal, as well as making eight stops.
The Lakers also look to build on their shots per game count. Last season, the team had 21.5 shots per game, and so far this season, they have 39.0 shots per game. I think that number could be a big factor in their offensive production.
I am not sure how to feel about this team yet, as they have started the same way as last year, which turned into an unfortunate collapse. I believe that Scheblein will be able to hold her own in net once again, but it is up to the offense to give her some breathing room to work with.
The Lakers also have a large freshman class, adding seven new athletes to the roster this season. I think adding new players always provides a spark for a team, as the new players bring a new energy to the team as well as promotes more competition between the players.
I also think that the veteran players on the roster, as well as head coach Heather Moore, do not want what happened last season to happen again. So adjustments will be made in order to clean up the issues that plagued them during their 4-9 stretch.
We still have to wait and see if this year’s field hockey roster will fare better against their SUNYAC rivals, but they need to take each game one at a time, and not lose focus like they did last season.
The Lakers have another test ahead of them as they are set to play their third game of the season when they will host Keuka College at Laker Turf Stadium on Sept. 9.
