The Oswego State men’s lacrosse team has its best record in over a decade and was looking to continue this streak as they took on SUNY Morrisville on Saturday, Feb. 28. The Lakers (6-1) were looking to move to (7-1) with a win over the Mustangs.

Win is what they did as they knocked down the Mustangs 18-9, fighting for their first SUNYAC conference game win and continuing their 8-game win streak against the Mustangs. The match was also a charity game for “Every Child Matters,” which honors Indigenous children lost to or survivors of boarding schools, and looks to celebrate life and honor the families’ journeys of healing.

As the game started, faceoff specialist Austin Sroda won the clamp, kicked the ball to himself and shot the ball all within five seconds, putting the Lakers up early 1-0 over the Mustangs. Not long after, Noah Taylor of the Mustangs scored, tying the game at 1-1. By the end of the first, it was 2-2.

The second quarter was Laker dominance with two goals from Emmet Starowicz and Garrett Elston, both of the Lakers’ leading scorers. Trey Jones and Sam Coleman scored as well, helping put the Lakers up 9-4 before the half.

Moving into the second, the Mustangs needed motivation and help on the offensive and defensive sides of the field. Kyan Dohn of the Mustangs did just that, putting one in the back of the cage, striking first in the second half, hoping to give the Mustangs life. Hayden Coney of the Lakers quickly took that life away getting the goal right back for Oswego to put the score to 11-6.

With 24 seconds left in the third quarter, Jones got his hat trick for the day, helping lead the Lakers’ offense to a dominant performance, while Elston and Starowicz were both looking for their hat tricks as well. On the defensive side of the field, captain Colton Maher for the Lakers finished with four ground balls and three caused turnovers, Joey Zarcone had three ground balls and two caused turnovers and Benjamin Perrotta had one caused turnover.

On the face-off crew, Alex Klecha had three ground balls and one caused turnover, while Sroda had 13 ground balls and two goals.

Going into the fourth quarter, the Lakers looked to continue the aggressiveness. Elston and Starowicz both found the back of the net yet again, giving them hat tricks for the day. Transfer Doryn Leclair also scored, giving him his second goal along with two assists.

The Lakers ended up scoring last, with Max Weeks sealing the game with two minutes left. The final score of 18-9 over the Mustangs and the Lakers’ first SUNYAC win of the year.

The Lakers’ journey will continue this Friday, April 3, in a highly anticipated match-up against the Plattsburgh State Cardinals as they look to continue their historic run this season and move to (8-1) overall and (2-0) in conference play.