The Oswego State women’s hockey team continues to push for a playoff spot in the NEWHL postseason as the team prepares for two more conference games. The Lakers are currently on a three-game losing streak coming off two losses to Plattsburgh State, the top team in the conference.

On Jan. 13, Oswego State fell 4-3 to the Cardinals as Plattsburgh State took advantage with four powerplay goals over the course of the contest. Oswego State also found success with the special teams after Kensie Malone found the net shorthanded and Amanda Zenstein scored on the powerplay in the opening stanza. 

The following day, Oswego State would not be able to keep up with the Cardinals in the third period as Plattsburgh State scored twice in the period to pull away with another victory. Oswego State head coach Mark Digby felt that the team showed up to play.

“I felt that we started the game with good energy,” Digby said. “I thought we had a good push first three minutes of the game. We got into penalty trouble early. On the second penalty kill, we get a puck that takes a bad bounce off the goalie. We have great puck pursuit and we get a goal off of it. As soon as that happened, I thought our play elevated and played the best hockey we have played since Christmas.”

A bright spot for the Lakers was Lexi Levy in net who made 53 saves between the two games. Coach Digby often uses the word consistency when touching on Levy’s play so far this season.

“Well, I think consistency is the key word for Lexi,” Digby said. “I do not think since the Adrian game that she would consider she let in a soft goal. There is a lot of balance that goes into having someone back that is steady and will make the right plays while making it look easy. That is what she brings to the team.”

The Lakers will play Buffalo State on Jan. 20 and then Morrisville State the following day in the Deborah F. Stanley Arena. Buffalo State enters the contest with four wins this season and have not won a game against NEWHL opponents.

For the Mustangs, the team is 2-8-0 in NEWHL play with wins against SUNY Canton and the Bengals of Buffalo State. The focus for Oswego State in practice has been connecting on the ice and preaching puck procession.

“The biggest thing we have tried to work on is puck decisions and management,” Digby said. “The nice part when you focus on things like that is not only the on-ice performance but also getting people connected.”

Heading into the games, the Lakers are third in the conference with 13 points after 11 conference games played. Plattsburgh State and SUNY Cortland are just in front of Oswego State and have only played 10 games total. Behind the Lakers are SUNY Canton before a large gap in points back to SUNY Potsdam. 

The Jan. 20 contest will honor first responders with their own appreciation night as the puck is scheduled to drop at 7 p.m. on home ice. The following day, the Lakers will have Alumni Day with a 3 p.m. puck drop right on campus.

Photo Provided By Jim Feeney