The bell tolled for Oswego State’s women’s hockey team as they played the Devilettes, a junior team from London, ON.

The Lakers struggled to break the solid lines of the Devilettes’ offense, never maintaining the puck’s control for very long.

#15, Lizzie Burke, #22, Kaylen Taddia, #23, Sarah Muller, #26, Sydni Pinti and #1, goalie Lexi Levy was the starting lineup for the Lakers as the Devilettes took charge.

The first period got off to a troubling foot as Oswego struggled to get out of the neutral zone at center ice. Eventually, the team tipped the puck over to the Devilettes’ side and charged the goal with several shots, all deflected by Devilette goalie, #31 Ella Gracey. There was much back and forth between the two teams, the Lakers fighting to keep up with their opponent’s offense. Simone Bednardik, #74, spearheaded the charge into the Devilettes’ zone and the subsequent shots made by teammates into the last few minutes of the period.

With a change in side came a new perspective for the Lakers, their defense instantly taking charge as London won the face-off. Despite the same back and forth as the first period, the Devilettes broke the tension with their first goal, scored by #15, Julia McIntosh, assisted by #66 and #62, Alex McDonald and AJ Smit as the puck slid right between the pads of Laker goalie Levy. The goal put Oswego on edge with #8 for the Lakers, Erika Parenti, scoring shortly after with assists from #3, Helen Vandamme at 13 minutes and 21 seconds into the period while the Lakers were on a power play following a penalty for the Devilettes’ #27 for hooking. Yet another penalty for London was called for tripping just minutes later. Even with the powerplay in their favor, the Lakers struggled with possession of the puck. Once again it was Bednardik (#74) who took charge with repossession as the clock was running out. A short penalty was given to the Lakers’ #20, Rheya Zemlak for roughing, with the team returning to full strength as the period came to a close.

The third period saw a lot of icing as the Lakers struggled to keep possession of the puck as they traveled into the Devilettes’ zone. Oswego’s Rylie Preston (#9), accompanied by Myah Booth (#4), used the open ice to her advantage starting the first of a slew of shots lobbed at London’s Gracey. Unfortunately, Preston’s advantage did not last for long with the Devilettes reclaiming the offense, just under halfway through the period. It was then that #96, Maya Valeri of the Devilette’s scored unassisted. The team’s next goal came just a few minutes later from #29 Ella McCallum, assisted by #96, Valeri and #24, Leah Milligan, putting London up 3-1.

The back-to-back goals fired the Lakers up for a fight against the clock. With several consecutive shots to the Devilettes’ goal, Meagan Smith, #14, assisted by #11, Katie Demers and Parenti, #8. The final few minutes of the game saw a strong effort by the home team to tie the game for an overtime, but it was not to be. London had Oswego tied up at the Lakers’ goal before any more points were scored.

Photo by: Oswego Athletics