The women’s ice hockey team took on the Nazareth University Golden Flyers last weekend, Oct. 25, in a tough battle that saw the Lakers fumble their defense and ultimately fall to their opponents.

Although Oswego won the opening face-off, Nazareth was quick to take the offense. Just four minutes into the period, Corsica Skibinski, #12 of the Flyers, assisted by #16, Ella Cedrone, was able to chip the puck into the air behind the right shoulder of starting Lakers goalie Mia DeVivo. Hot on the handle, the Flyers kept the offense after that first goal, poking holes in the Lakers’ defense all too easily.

Following Nazareth’s first goal, the rest of the team was a little too eager to celebrate any close shot, putting DeVivo clearly on edge. Oswego was able to get a small break toward the blue line, but their opponents were faster.

Jenna Majewski, #19, took two quick shots at Flyers goalie Mia Gonsalves, but Gonsalves was too nimble for Majewski to maneuver the puck around her. After Majewski lost control of the puck, Nazareth took charge once again. Majewski, never one to give up, skated nearly the entire length of the ice in mere seconds, but flew into a Flyers forward and sent them and DeVivo into the goal. A brief timeout was called for the correction of the goal, but the game quickly got back into full swing. The two teams then struggled to break the neutral zone, with either barely breaking the blue lines.

The first period ended with nine shots on goal for the Lakers and 10 for the Golden Flyers. The home team broke into the second period full of energy and out for revenge. However, what became a tense period ended in yet another goal for the opposing team. While Oswego grew closer to scoring on an eventual power play, Gonsalves, who remained in the net for the entirety of the game, failed to give up a single goal despite the well-made shots from the Lakers. As the second period came to an end after a lot of back and forth, Nazareth’s Amy Laskowski, #13, chipped the puck over new Lakers goalie Ava Christensen’s shoulder, in an all too similar goal to the team’s first.

Erika Finney took to the net for the Lakers in the final period of the game, proving her chops as a solid goalie for the team, making multiple clean saves. Although she prevented Nazareth from making a third goal, Gonsalves did the same for the Lakers. Oswego fought hard to score, but was without success. Both teams got multiple penalties throughout the period for hooking and body checking, but the power plays of both only made the Lakers and Flyers desperate for a goal.

The game came to end with an honorable fight from the Lakers, but their weak points were all too exposed. Despite their win in their first exhibition game against St. John Fisher, it is clear the Lakers need to stay on their toes and strengthen their offense if they are to succeed in the season.