After a shaky three game stretch to start the season, the Oswego State men’s lacrosse team have won their last two games, including a SUNYAC victory against SUNY Brockport, to bring their record up to 3-2.
The first of their two straight wins came against the Utica University Pioneers away from home on March 22, which they won 8-3, before facing Brockport on March 25 and winning 9-8.
Lakers new head coach, Andrew Daly, got his first taste of SUNYAC conference action. The rivalry between the two teams was apparent to Daly during the week leading up to the game.
“I thought we had a good week at practice. I think our guys definitely had this game circled, being a SUNYAC game,” Daly said. “I think there was some extra added energy everyday in practice, even during the bus ride over and in the pregame. The team as a whole was pretty pumped up for it.”
This win was extra special for the Lakers as the team had not defeated Brockport since the 2019 season and before that, had not beaten the Golden Eagles since 2013.
Although it is his first season with the Lakers, Daly did not want to set long-term expectations for his team, trying to stay in the present and take it game-by-game.
“I try not to set too many expectations for the end game of the end of the year, but more so expectations of how we play game-to-game,” Daly said. “The first two or three games we didn’t quite meet those expectations, but in the last two we met and exceeded those expectations.”
Daly explained that in order to meet or exceed expectations, he wants each individual player to fill their role and do what they need to do to help the team succeed. Whether it is filling space or running a play, as long as each player is doing their part, Daly believes they will succeed.
Lakers players were disappointed about how their season ended last year, especially senior Aiden Kenyon and junior Gavin Elston, who have both become leaders on this Lakers squad. The team has felt some urgency to get back out on the field early in the season and surpass their previous 8-6 finish.
“We fell short last season, but this is a new season with new guys,” Elston said. “There is urgency with upperclassmen, so we are trying to put that in the freshmen’s minds. But we just continue to take the season day-by-day.”
So far this season, Elston has already put up 14 points made up of 10 goals and four assists. On the other side, Kenyon continues to hold down the defense while in net. While it may seem like a one-man job, he emphasizes that it takes more than just himself to command a defense.
“I try not to focus on myself too much, I try to focus more on the team itself,” Kenyon said. “My defense alone, it’s not only me that is taking the ball. They help me see the shots that I need to save and get the best look at the ball.”
Next on the Lakers schedule, they are set to host the Plattsburgh State Cardinals on April 1. The Cardinals are 2-6 on the season so far and the Lakers will look to improve their record with another SUNYAC victory.
Photo via: Oswego Athletics
