Following a 2-0 start to the season in non-conference play, the Oswego State women’s hockey team was in action twice on Nov. 3 and 4, facing two familiar SUNYAC foes for the first time this season. Unfortunately, the Lakers fell short in both close, low-scoring contests.

In the first of those two games, the Lakers faced off on the road against SUNY Plattsburgh in their first SUNYAC matchup of the young season. This game started out well for the road team, with the Lakers taking a 1-0 lead on an early first period goal from junior forward Mack Hull, her second on the campaign. However, just a short time later as the first period reached its halfway point, the Cardinals evened things up with a goal from graduate student Adriana Urban.

The game would remain tied up at one heading into the second period, and it would stay that way throughout, with the Lakers failing to get the puck into the net despite 12 shots on goal during the period. Plattsburgh was unable to find the range either, as this matchup had clearly turned into a defensive struggle, with Lakers goalie Lexi Levy and Cardinals goalie Lilla Nease engaged in an intense battle through the period.

However, things unraveled for the Lakers in the third period, with a goal from Plattsburgh forward Julie Masotta finally breaking the 1-1 tie just over midway through the period. Later on in the period, the Cardinals would put this one out of the Lakers’ reach for good with a power-play goal from senior forward Mae Olshansky. That goal finally broke the seal on power play opportunities, with both the Lakers and the Cardinals having been 0-4 on those chances prior to the game sealing goal by Olshansky.

The Lakers dropped to 2-1 on the season with the 3-1 defeat.

Next up on the docket for the Lakers was another road matchup, this time against the 2-1 Kangaroos of SUNY Canton.

The first period, in a sign of things to come, was a battle between the defenses of the two teams. Oswego State outshot the Kangaroos 6:4 throughout the 20 minutes, including a pair from Ashlyn McGrath and Lauren Schell, but neither team was able to get any of those shots into the net. 

The second period brought more of the same, but this time the Kangaroos were challenging Oswego goalie Hannah Skavnak in a big way, with a whopping 15 shots on goal during the period. The Lakers were able to put up eight of their own against Canton goalie Molly Lenihan, including a pair from senior forward Kensie Malone and three from forward Simone Bednarik. Once again, neither team was able to break the ice and get on the scoreboard, as the game reached 40 minutes of ice time without a goal.

Finally, midway through the third period, the seal on the scoring was finally broken, as Canton was able to get on the board courtesy of freshman Riley Andzell on only the second goal of her young collegiate career. The Lakers fought as hard they could to make up the deficit, slashing 10 shots on goal in the period, but it was to no avail, and Andzell’s goal was enough to make the difference as Oswego fell to Canton 1-0, their second consecutive loss, this weekend.

With their second loss of the weekend, the Lakers record dropped to even at 2-2, and they have now started the season 0-2 against the SUNYAC conference. They look to get back on track on Nov. 10 with a matchup looming against the Morrisville State Mustangs at 3 p.m.,  the Lakers’ third consecutive road game. Morrisville currently sits at 2-1 on the season, including 1-1 in the SUNYAC conference, as the Lakers look to capture their first SUNYAC victory.

Photo via: Oswego Athletics