After a slow start to their season, the Oswego State field hockey team looks to turn things around as they enter their first conference matchup of the season. 

Oswego State hosted St. Lawrence University in a non-conference matchup on Sept. 16. The game started slow with neither team getting much pressure on offense. The first opportunity came late in the first quarter where the Saints had three straight corner attempts. The Lakers’ defense shut down the first two attempts, but St. Lawrence capitalized on their third try with quick passes and a finish by the Saints’ leading goal-scorer Maggie Spire. Lakers junior Kate McNally would try to answer before the quarter expired but Saints’ goalie Lucy Adiutori pushed aside her chance. 

Neither team would light the scoreboard in the second or third quarter as both teams got one shot a piece. The Lakers got their sole corner in the third quarter but could not capitalize. Heading into the last 15 minutes, the game remained at an offensive standstill as the midfielders continued to grind out the contest around the center line. The Saints would break this midfield battle as forward Caroline Hamilton slipped an insurance goal past Lakers goalie Ky Phillips to extend their lead to two with just under five minutes remaining. 

Oswego State was not able to answer and lost 2-0, pushing their record to 2-5. Both teams finished with three total shots, but the big difference was St. Lawrence’s 10 corners compared to the Lakers’ one. 

Looking to bounce back after a loss to St. Lawrence University, Oswego State went on the road to take on the 0-5 Morrisville Mustangs. 

The Lakers began the game firing shots from all over the shooting circle. McNally got the scoring-party started just 42 seconds into the game and scored again two minutes later. She did not stop there as McNally netted her third and fourth goals of the game in the second quarter and put the Lakers on top 6-0 at halftime. The Mustangs struggled to get the ball out of their defensive zone and could not generate any offense. At halftime, the Lakers led the shot department 15-0 and the corner attempts 6-1. 

Oswego State did not slow down in the second half as junior Ellie Kazel netted her first of two goals of the game to begin the second half. Two Lakers, freshman Gabby Curtis and sophomore Alex Vatalare, scored their first career goals to extend Oswego State’s lead. The Mustangs had no answer for the Lakers’ offensive pressure. Erin Shaefer buried the last goal of the game, sealing a 12-0 win for Oswego State and earning their first road victory of the season.

Philips had an easy and quiet day in the net as she faced zero shots. The Lakers controlled most of the game, finishing with 28 total shots, 17 on goal. The Lakers’ constant pressure generated 12 corners compared to the Mustangs’ two. McNally led the team with eight points and Kazel was right behind her with seven. Oswego State coach Caitlyn Hoover got a lot of work from her bench as they scored three goals and had an assist. The Lakers have now won their last 12 games against the Mustangs, pushing their record to 16-3 against them. 

After a much-needed win against Morrisville, the Lakers look ahead to their next matchup against the University of Rochester. The Yellowjackets are 3-3 on the season and play a slow defensive game as they average 1.33 goals per game but only give up .83 goals per game. The Yellowjackets have played in five one-goal games, three of them going into overtime. 

The Lakers have struggled in recent years, losing 10 straight games to the Yellowjackets, but they will look to turn the tide at noon, on Saturday, Sept. 23 at Rochester.

Photo via: Oswego Athletics