The Oswego State women’s hockey team heads into another set of NEWHL conference games after finding success in November. The Lakers hold a 7-3 overall record after starting off the 2022-23 season with three losses.

The team is on a seven-game win streak that features positive results against nationally ranked teams in the USCHO poll. On Nov. 18-19, the Lakers swept SUNY Cortland in a home and home series that moved Oswego State ahead in the conference standings. 

In the Lakers most recent contest, the team traveled to No. 13 Hamilton College on Nov. 27 for a non conference matchup. Oswego State defeated the Continentals 2-1 for their third win against a nationally ranked opponent in four games. Head coach Mark Digby noticed that his team has been able to form a new likeness with the momentum.

“It is confidence in our identity,” Digby said. “I would say the key component is grit. We have a fast group that is pretty skilled, but we do not want to win games just on that. We want to win games on compete level and grit.” 

That grit has come on the defensive side of the puck with a stat that usually goes unnoticed. The Lakers have blocked 81 shots this season with 16 coming in their latest game versus Hamilton College.

“It is nice to see that it is not your stereotypical shot blockers,” Digby said. “It is up and down the line up with everyone buying in. [The players are] eating pucks when they have to and getting pucks out of our end.”

For the players, this win streak has been a boost of confidence. Ashlyn McGrath noticed the switch in the locker room after the success. 

“You can definitely tell in the locker room at the beginning of the year after we kept losing games the energy was low,” McGrath said. “Now that we are on a win streak, everyone is happy. Everyone wants to keep the win streak going and we will do anything to ensure that happens.”

McGrath has been leading the way so far this season on the offensive side with seven goals and three assists. The sophomore is the only Laker averaging a point per game. The forward credits her points total to the chemistry she has with her linemates.

“I think our line is very connected,” McGrath said. “We know where each other is on the ice. We make each other better. Having them out there and knowing where I am going or what I am going to do is very helpful.”

On the defensive side of the puck, the goaltender tandem of Lexi Levy and Joanna Hiebert had held opponents to 1.7 goals per game. Levy transferred to Oswego State from Post University and has played seven games in between the pipes for the Lakers. 

“We have a good bond,” Levy said. “It is nice that it is not one is set, and one is not set. We can rotate and we are both fine with that. We are both able to perform and whoever is in net we have full confidence that they will get the job done.”

Levy has posted a 1.58 goals against average, the best goals against average by any goaltender in the NEWHL. The netminder holds a .936 save percentage with 161 saves so far this season.

The Lakers currently slot into the conference standings in second with a 5-1 record. Four more points are on the line this weekend as the team returns their focus back to conference play. Digby knows the level of play the Lakers need in every NEWHL matchup.

“As we have seen already, conference points are hard to come by,” Digby said. “You can not really look past any buddy, and you have to make sure you are ready to compete every single day.”

Oswego State heads on the road Dec. 2 for a 4 p.m. contest against the Buffalo State Bengals. In terms of the history book, the Lakers have taken the past seven matchups versus the Bengals with the previous two games being shutouts.

On Dec. 3, the Lakers return home for Teddy Bear Toss against the Plattsburgh State Cardinals for a 3 p.m. puck drop. The Cardinals enter the contest at the top of the conference standings with an undefeated record.

Photo Provided By Jim Feeney