The Oswego State women’s soccer team traveled to face the SUNY New Paltz Hawks in the first round of the SUNYAC playoffs on Oct. 28. Although the Hawks offense has proven to be elite, the Lakers held them scoreless and advanced on PKs in the 0-0 game.
The Hawks wasted no time, as they shot off the first shot of the game within the first minute, followed by another one, just minutes after. The Lakers responded with shots of their own, as Katie Delgrosso put up two shots on goal, both saved by the Hawks goalie. This trend continued throughout the half as both teams put up shot after shot, with both goalies saving them at every turn. The half ended at a 0-0 score.
The Hawks’ dominating offense stepped on the gas in the second half, as for the first 18 minutes, they put up four shots while allowing none from the Lakers. Brianna Winkler put up the first shot for the Lakers of the half just over the 63-minute mark, and the Hawks went right on back to dominating the ball. The Lakers didn’t have a chance for a shot until there was a minute left in the half as the Hawks put up four more shots. The Lakers’ defense kept them in this game, as the second half ended still at 0-0.
The first overtime period saw another strong showing from the Lakers’ defense, but also the Hawks’ offense. The Hawks kept the Lakers on their toes throughout the ten minute period, putting up shot-after-shot. The Hawks put up four shots to the Lakers’ zero, but fortunately none of them found the net as both teams moved on to the second overtime period.
Both teams pulled out all the stops in second overtime, as the Hawks and Lakers exchanged shot after shot. Winkler put up two shots within the first two minutes of the period, but none of them found the net. Goalie Perri Anderson kept the season alive with a save at the 107-minute mark. This was the last shot of the period as the game headed to a shootout.
The shootout began with the Hawks, and their first shot missed thanks to Anderson. Emma Rechtorovic was up for the first shot of the Lakers, but her shot was stopped by the Hawks goalie. This was followed by another save by Perri, and Amber McDermott was up for the Lakers. She drilled in the first shootout goal of the period, giving the Lakers a 1-0 advantage. Unfortunately, the Hawks went on to tie the shootout after a goal of their own. Jackie Marquardt was up next, and she put the Lakers right back in the lead, as they led 2-1. The Hawks quickly tied this with a goal, but Lexie Thompson put in the clutch score to bring it to 3-2 Lakers. The Hawks had one more chance, as Anderson saved their attempt, giving the Lakers the win in the first round of the playoffs.
The Lakers continued on in the playoffs to face the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons in the semifinals on Nov. 1. The Red Dragons carried on their dominance over the SUNYAC, as they defeated the Lakers 2-1.
The Red Dragons controlled the ball the entire first period, as they put up nine shots compared to the Lakers’ two. The first score of the game came from the Red Dragons at the 35-minute mark, and after a shot from the Lakers, they added to their lead at the 40-minute mark bringing the score to 2-0. The Lakers were not able to respond, leaving them in a two point hole heading into the second half.
The second half was a better performance from the Lakers, as they outshot the Red Dragons 5-4. The teams exchanged shots back and forth until McDermott found the goal at the 70-minute mark. The Red Dragons never put up a shot after this, the Lakers fired three of their own, but unfortunately none of them found the net. The Lakers fell to the Red Dragons 2-1 to effectively end their season.
Photo via: Oswego Athletics
