The Oswego State field hockey team wraps up their season with their first SUNYAC conference win after a dominating performance against Morrisville State. This win snapped a two-game losing streak and helped the Lakers reach an 8-8 record. 

Before the Morrisville game, the Lakers were on the road against the 14-2 SUNY Geneseo Knights on Oct. 22. The Knights would grab a 1-0 lead in the tenth minute into the game off of the stick of Maggie Phipps. The Lakers could not get any offensive pressure as the Knights’ defense shut everything down and would only allow one shot on goal in the first half from Kate McNally. SUNY Geneseo would tally two more goals in the second quarter as Phipps would score her second and Katrina Clare would score the third goal of the game. 

Defensively, the Lakers improved in the second half with goalie Erica Scheblein saving all ten shots she faced. The Knights would stay strong on defense to prevent any possible comeback and block Oswego State’s only shot of the second half. With the 3-0 win the Knights would extend their win streak to 11 games and now have a 23-2 all-time record against the Lakers. 

After the 3-0 loss to SUNY Geneseo, the Lakers would host the 4-9 Morrisville State Mustangs on breast cancer awareness night. Oswego State came out firing from the start with seven total shots in the first quarter and a goal from senior Kacie Simzer. Simzer did not stop there and scored two more goals for the Lakers, giving herself a hat trick in the first 22 minutes of the game. 

With just over a minute left in the half, McNally would score the fourth goal of the game, picking up her third point of the game. At half the Lakers would outshoot Morrisville 20-0 and would have 13 penalty corners.

Oswego State would continue their dominant time of possession in the second half and net their fifth goal from senior Kaitlyn Ahle, assisted by Nancy Pagliaroli. The Mustangs continued to be shut down on offense by Oswego State’s dominating defense. The Lakers would score two more goals coming off the sticks of Kaitlyn Mastracco and Simzer once again. All nine of Simzer’s shots would be on goal. Scheblein would see no action as the Mustangs were held to no shots and no corners. The Lakers would finish the 7-0 win with 34 shots and 19 corners. 

After her four-goal game, Simzer would finish the season with 17 goals which would tie her career high and the school record. She would lead the team and the SUNYAC in goals and points with 36. Mastracco would finish the season with 10 goals and two assists and Ahle would end up with five goals and five assists. Despite the 8-8 record, the Lakers would outscore opponents 53-23 and outshoot opponents by six shots on goal. Oswego State would average 8.5 corners a game and only gave up 5.5 corners per game. They would finish with a 1-5 conference record as they went 5-3 at home and 3-5 on the road. 

After ending the season with a win, the Lakers will take the positives out of their 2022 campaign and will look to bounce back next season.

Photo via Oswego Athletics