Oswego State’s season came to an end last Saturday after a 7-1 loss at the hands of No. 2 Plattsburgh State in the semifinals of the NEWHL playoffs. The Lakers ended with a 10-13-3 overall record and went 5-9-2 in NEWHL play. 

“I’d be lying if I didn’t say we were disappointed,” head coach Diane Dillon said. “Our goal was to make the playoffs, which we did, but I think what was so frustrating for us was the month of February. Dealing with injuries and sickness, we never really hit our full stride like we had hoped.”

The month of February proved to be tough for the Lakers. They finished with a 2-7 record in the month, battling both injuries and the flu that went around the team. It was a tough ending to a season that began 5-0-1.

“I will admit, our schedule was much easier in the first half,” Dillon said. “We were a little bit better prepared than the rest of the league just for that first set of games. But everyone gets better throughout the season or gets banged up.”

The beginning of the season gave little time for Oswego State to prepare, especially with a roster made up of nine freshmen and two transfers. But Dillon gives all the credit in preparation to her veteran leaders.

“Our captains did a very good job getting everyone ready for the season,” Dillon said. “We had very little prep time before we start, and I’ve got to give credit where credit is due, and I’ll give that to Kate [Randazzo] in terms of getting the team ready and in shape.”

The hot start Oswego State got off to was fueled by high scoring outputs, scoring 18 goals in the team’s first four games. However, the offense slowed down a bit during its stretch run, and there were several missed opportunities in the scoring department.

“We really struggled on the offensive side of things, and our power play was non-existent,” Dillon said. “That’s a big problem and something we have to address for next year.”

Oswego State finished the season averaging two goals per game and converted just 6.2 percent of their power play opportunities. However, from a defense and goaltending standpoint, the Lakers were solid. They allowed just 2.2 goals per game and did it with the help of two solid goaltenders. SUNY Cortland transfer Rachael Farmer finished with a 1.80 GAA and a .942 save percentage. Freshman Cassie Shokar ended the season with a 2.93 GAA and a .918 save percentage. Both players will be back next season for Oswego State.

“Rachael is a seasoned player coming from Cortland, so she’s been around the league. She knows what it takes; that’s why her number was called for the playoff game,” Dillon said. “Cassie as a freshman got more playing time than I’ve ever given a freshman before. We have two extremely solid goaltenders – very different goaltenders, but both very solid.”

The good news for Oswego State is that there is a lot to look forward to in the future. The Lakers only lost two seniors and found production even from their freshmen core. Three of the Lakers’ top six scorers were freshmen, with Sara Cruise leading the way with six goals and eight assists.

“For me as a coach, it’s gratifying to see them develop,” Dillon said. “Seeing these kids start to really mesh as a team and as a group of young women enjoying each other, that was very gratifying.”

But it is not just Dillon who is excited for what is to come. It is also captain Kate Randazzo and assistant captain Victoria Rankin.

“It’s going to be exciting next year to see where we’re at because we have so few people leaving,” Randazzo said. “It’ll be interesting to see how this year’s freshman do, but I think it will be more exciting to see how this year’s sophomores do as an upperclassman with two years under their belt.”

It will also be much easier for the Lakers knowing there will not be half a roster of new faces to mesh with from a chemistry standpoint.

“Next season is going to be a flip of this year,” Rankin said. “We have a ton of people returning, and now that everyone knows how to play with each other, I think the main point is going to be capitalizing on our opportunities, which is something we didn’t do this year.”

One way Dillon has addressed these issues is on the recruiting trail. Last season consisted of the Lakers adding three defensemen and two goaltenders, a clear focus on defense. This upcoming class is all about stressing one thing.

“Offense, offense, offense,” Dillon said. “Right now, we have five forwards committed and a goaltender, bringing in some scoring touch hopefully and adding some power up front.”

Although this season may not have ended the way the Lakers would have wanted it to, this young core has the ability to turn that around in a big way next season.

Graphic by Maria Pericozzi | The Oswegonian