The Oswego State men’s lacrosse team looks to turn around their 2022 season and get back in the win column this afternoon against the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons. With 2 games left in the regular season, the Lakers sit in the last playoff spot before the start of the SUNYAC postseason on May 4th. The Red Dragons of SUNY Cortland sit undefeated in the number one spot in the conference and clinched a playoff berth. Game is set to begin at 4:00 p.m. this afternoon at Laker Turf Stadium.
Season History
OSWEGO STATE
Oswego State has dropped the past two contests, both to SUNYAC opponents. The Lakers lost by 1 goal to SUNY Geneseo, a team now coached by former Oswego State head coach Drew Bezek. The Lakers were unable to tie the game late on the road and gained their first loss of the season in conference play. This past weekend, the Lakers went back on the bus to head to SUNY Oneonta to face off against the SUNY Oneonta Red Dragons. Oswego State was unable to find the back of the net in the second half as the Red Dragons pulled away from the Lakers and secured a win with a final score of 12-6. SUNY Oneonta now chases Oswego State in the SUNYAC standings as the Red Dragons hold the 5th spot in the standings.
SUNY CORTLAND
The Red Dragons of SUNY Cortland enter the conference game with a perfect SUNYAC record of the course of the 2022 season. The team recently found success against the newer program out of SUNY New Paltz as the Red Dragons cruised by the Hawks by a score of 23-4. Two weeks prior, the Red Dragons defeated SUNY Oneonta by a blow out score of 22-5. SUNY Cortland enters the contest on a 6-game win streak as the group looks to improve to 5-3 while on the road this season.
Matchup History
Oswego State heads into the contest looking for their first win against the SUNY Cortland men’s lacrosse program. The Red Dragons have 38 wins against the Lakers in 38 contests between the two teams. The most recent matchup came last season as SUNY Cortland defeated the Lakers 16-5 down Interstate 81 in Cortland, New York.
By the Numbers
RECORD (conference)
OSW: 8-4-0 (3-2-0)
COR: 9-6-0 (5-0-0)
GOALS (per game)
OSW: 152 (12.67)
COR: 194 (12.93)
SHOTS ON GOAL (per game)
OSW: 312 (45.20)
COR: 409 (41.90)
MAN UP OPPORUNITIES (percentage)
OSW: 19-52 (36.5%)
COR: 14-46 (30.4%)
Statistic Leaders
OSWEGO STATE
GOALS
- Gavin Elston 33
- Weston Gray 25
- Ryan Eccles 19
ASSISTS
- Corey O’Connor 17
- Ryan Eccles 14
- Liam Sexton 10
POINTS
- Gavin Elston 42
- Weston Gray 33
- Ryan Eccles 33
SHOTS (percentage)
- Gavin Elston 68 (.591)
- Weston Gray 41 (.719)
- Ryan Eccles 37 (.552)
SUNY CORTLAND
GOALS
- Zak Jones 27
- Pat Doyen 23
- Dante Yacavone 22
ASSISTS
- Dante Yacavone 20
- Pat Doyen 14
- Colton Smith 11
POINTS
- Dante Yacavone 42
- Pat Doyen 37
- Zak Jones 3
SHOTS (percentage)
- Zak Jones 56 (.737)
- Dante Yacavone 47 (.691)
- Brandon Stiles 46 (.648)
Players to Watch
OSWEGO STATE: Aiden Kenyon
As the Lakers look for their first win against the SUNY Cortland squad, defense is going to be the name of the game this afternoon at Laker Turf Stadium. Junior netminder Aiden Kenyon is going to be a key factor in today’s game and whether the Lakers can hang with the top team in the SUNYAC. With 12 games played this season, Kenyon posts a 9.18 goals against average and a .604 save percentage. The netminder posts a 7-4 record during his first season as a starter.
SUNY CORTLAND: Dante Yacavone
The Red Dragons are going to need to get this offense going right off the bus and Dante Yacavone is going to be the spark for SUNY Cortland. The leading points getter on the squad has 42 points, 22 goals and 20 assists, in 13 games played in the 2022 campaign. Yacavone has taken 68 shots this season with 47 on target.
Final Thoughts and Prediction
The Lakers are going to have a tough task this afternoon as the team looks to extinguish the red-hot SUNY Cortland squad. As Oswego State battles for a playoff spot, the bigger game is the matchup against SUNY Brockport this Friday at home. If this game gets out of hand early, the Lakers should turn their focus to Friday night and rest up for the important regular season finale. Oswego State needs a big day for netminder Aiden Kenyon and the rest of the defensive core to stay close to the Red Dragons.
Prediction: 14-6 SUNY Cortland
Photo By William Rogers | The Oswegonian
