The Oswego State men’s lacrosse team had an intense and challenging week, dominating one game and getting crushed the next. The first game of the week was against the Plattsburgh State Cardinals and the word that defines the match is effectiveness. 

The Lakers won by a large margin, but if you examine the percentage of shots on goal, the Lakers were significantly more effective. The game started with the Cardinals scoring their first goal after a failed Lakers attack with less than three minutes on the scoreboard. The intensity did not stop there, with the Cardinals’ second goal coming shortly after, with less than a minute between them. However, the Lakers were not going to let it go easily, hitting back with three goals in a very short period, all within less than three minutes. These goals were scored by Garrett Elston, Hayden Coney and Jason Dongelewic. The Cardinals even tied the game, but just seven seconds after, Logan Prescott extended the lead for the Lakers again. 5-4 was the score heading into the second quarter.

The second began with the Lakers domination, as the team scored two goals in under a minute. The Cardinals also scored two goals, but the game slowed down a bit, going seven minutes without anyone scoring. That was when Corey O’Connor extended the lead again to 8-6 and took the game to halftime at 9-7. 

After the third quarter, which went downhill for the Cardinals, the Lakers’ effective attack saw a sequence of four goals in two minutes. This was enough of an advantage to take the game into the final quarter with a 15-9 lead.

The fourth quarter could not have been any different. The Lakers dominated, conceding only one goal in 15 minutes. And to seal the deal, O’Connor scored his 37th goal of the season, making the final score 20-10.

The story of the second game was different. The Lakers faced the respected SUNY Cortland Red Dragons and lost by a landslide.

The record was already unfavorable, with the Lakers never having won a single match against the Red Dragons in their history. However, since the women broke that taboo this season, the men could also break it. This matchup was the most anticipated of the season so far, with both teams undefeated in the SUNYAC.

The entire first period was dominated by the Red Dragons, opening a 5-0 lead with 10 minutes of play. Gavin Elston even tried to reduce the deficit by scoring a goal with 50 seconds remaining, but the Lakers still went into the second period losing 6-1.

During the second period, things worsened, as the Lakers failed to score a single goal and the Red Dragons extended their lead to 11-1, taking a substantial lead into halftime. 

The Lakers started the third quarter well, scoring three goals in a row, but it was not enough to secure a victory. The Red Dragons dominated from start to finish, winning the game 19-5. 

The Lakers’ next match will be against SUNY Canton on the road, concluding the regular season. The Lakers have already secured a spot in the playoffs and are now playing to determine their final position.

Photo by: Oswego Athletics