OSWEGO, NY – Oswego State has returned to full strength as students and staff return for the Spring 2022 semester. However, Oswego Athletics continued playing games over the weeks-long break. After the break, here’s where Oswego’s winter sports are at now.
Men’s Hockey
What an interesting break it has been for the Oswego State Lakers’ Men’s Hockey team. The team has danced up, down, and every which way in their 2021-2022 season. However, the fruit of the team’s labor is finally showing. Oswego sits at 34 votes in the USCHO D3 Hockey poll, just 3 votes away from being nationally ranked. The Lakers sit 15th in the NCAA Pairwise ranking, putting them a few spots out of possibly being selected to the NCAA Tournament at the end of this year. They are currently tied with Geneseo for the lead in the SUNYAC.
This comes after a slew of important games. To start off the semester, the Lakers took on Augsburg in the Oswego State Hockey Classic. The Lakers fell to the No.4 team in the nation, but played them close in a gritty 2-1 matchup. They beat Canton for the third time this year to take third in the tournament. After a game against Utica was cancelled due to COVID protocols, they have gone on a tear in the SUNYAC. The Lakers have knocked off Buffalo State, Potsdam, and Plattsburgh by at least 3 goals. The 5-2 Whiteout win felt like the culmination of building momentum for the Lakers; packed crowds, good goaltending, and a ‘score by committee’ approach on the ice.
What’s left for the Lakers? Most importantly, the Lakers will face Brockport and Geneseo in back-to-back games. Brockport, who received 12 votes in the most recent USCHO poll, travels to Oswego on February 4th. Then, the Lakers will head out west to face Geneseo on the road in a rematch against the No.2 team in the nation on February 5th. Two wins in those games will put Oswego in a great spot when it comes selection time in February.
Women’s Hockey
Women’s Hockey has also had a very chaotic break. To start their 2022 half of the season, the Lakers cancelled two games to Amherst and Stevenson due to COVID protocols. Once the Lakers were able to hit the ice, they lost a tough 2-3 matchup against the Utica Pioneers at home. The Plattsburgh Cardinals, the No. 2 team in the nation, beat the Lakers 5-2 as well despite 2 early goals from Oswego. The Lakers then bounced back with a huge 2-1 win over Cortland, a team that has been receiving votes in the USCHO poll. The momentum continued to roll for Oswego, as they romped to an 8-0 win over Morrisville the next week. The Lakers then ventured up to the North Country to once again visit the Plattsburgh Cardinals for a doubleheader. In the first game, despite taking an early lead, the Lakers lost the non-conference matchup by a score of 3-6. The Lakers then dropped their second contest, this time for conference points, by a score of 1-4. The Lakers then dropped their first true game of the semester to William Smith by a final score of 1-2.
The Women have experienced some roster changes as well. Tessa Mucha, a D1 transfer from Saint Michael’s, joined the team this January. Megan Teachout has left the Lakers. Teachout, one of the Lakers’ most potent forwards, transferred to NEWHL rival Potsdam over the break.
Oswego sits third in the NEWHL standings, tied with Canton. With a win over Cortland in the books, a strong end to the season for the Lakers should set them up nicely for a run at Plattsburgh in the NEWHL championship
Men’s Basketball
Men’s Basketball has flown somewhat under the radar this year. This is perplexing considering that the Lakers are ranked No.22 in the nation, according to the D3Hoops.com poll. The Lakers have only been tripped up once this season; a 65-67 loss to Nazareth early in the season. From there, the Lakers have dominated the SUNYAC and every opponent they’ve come across. With a 15-1 record, the Lakers have a real shot at a conference title and an NCAA bid. This is going to be a really fun team to watch for the rest of the year. They have four massive games coming up this season that will test their worth. Two two-game sets against SUNYAC powerhouses New Paltz and Oneonta await the Lakers. This is going to be a very fun team to watch as they fight for a conference title.
Women’s Basketball
Women’s Basketball currently has a 3-12 record, but by no means is this a team not in growth. The Lakers have played their opponents very closely as they look to build and grow a strong team in the future. Two of their three wins have been major blowouts. They played Hilbert College close, but blew out SUNY Delphi and Wells College by at least thirty points. This is a team in the growing stage. Patience is always rewarded; if Oswego fans are patient with this team, this team will reward them and then some down the road in the coming years.
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