Although the Oswego State women’s lacrosse team is just 3-4 overall to start this season, the team does have one major positive early in 2013 season. Freshman sensation Erannan Shattuck has burst onto the scene in her first season with the Lakers, leading them in goals, assists and total points.

Shattuck has played in all seven of the Lakers’ games thus far in the season, starting five. She has scored 15 goals and recorded nine assists, good for a total of 24 points. Shattuck is the only member of Oswego State to reach double-digit goals and more than 10 total points. But despite her offensive outburst, Shattuck said she just wanted to make the team at the beginning of the year.

“My expectation coming into freshman year was to simply make the team,” Shattuck said. “I knew going in I was

going to make the team because there was no way I was going to let myself fail.”

Shattuck has been playing lacrosse since third grade, and she said her father is the biggest reason she has kept at it for this long.

“My dad is definitely my biggest influence,” Shattuck said. “He played lacrosse in college and taught me everything I know.”

Shattuck faced some challenges early on in her career, as she was forced to play high school lacrosse at a different school. Her high school, Bishop Grimes in Syracuse, is a smaller Catholic school that does not offer girls’ lacrosse. Shattuck chose to play at a nearby school, Bishop Ludden, which forced her to adapt to new friends and teammates.

“I was the only student to go to Bishop Ludden to play, so I was all alone and forced to make new friends and show my skills,” Shattuck said. “The transition was hard at first, but my team was accepting and it ended up being a very successful change for me.”

Following her high school days, Shattuck came to Oswego State, where she once again had to meet new teammates. Shattuck said she was able to bond with her teammates during fall practices, and that has contributed greatly to her early success so far.

“Making friends with my team was probably my biggest strength because without communication and understanding throughout the game, there is no way to be effective,” Shattuck said. “So I’d say that making sure that I get along with everyone on the team is what helps me the most, because we feel comfortable communicating on the field, which leads to effective playing.”

Shattuck and her teammates must be getting along very well, as she has taken the team by storm. She has recorded four goals in a game three times, all of which resulted in Lakers’ victories. The first time she accomplished the feat was in a 21-0 road victory over Houghton College on March 13, the second game of Oswego State’s season. The following two times were also on the road, and in back-to-back contests: March 18 in a 22-5 win over Centre College, and in a 17-6 victory over SUNY Canton on March 25.

Shattuck said her goal for the team, as well as herself, is to advance to the postseason.

“I would love to make SUNYACs this year, and every year that I play on the team,” Shattuck said. “I think that would be a great achievement for me personally, as well as my entire team.”

A psychology major, Shattuck said she has not yet considered what she would like to do following her days as a Laker, as she is currently focused on what is in front of her.

“I have absolutely no idea what I want to do after school,” Shattuck said. “I would love to still be motivated and active athletically, but for now I am going to continue playing and enjoying my college years while I can, and figure out my future when I get there.”