In arguably the most telling two-game stretch of the season, the Oswego State men’s lacrosse team fell to Plattsburgh State and SUNY Cortland. 

The Lakers opened the weekend against the Cardinals and the contest turned out to be even most of the way through – although the inevitable turning point came in the fourth quarter. 

An unsuccessful clear attempt from Gavin Angelo resulted in a Plattsburgh possession, where the Cardinals used clean ball movement to orchestrate a cohesive offensive set. Dylan Ruland corralled a blocked shot from Tim Keenan in front of the crease and sniped it past goalie Seamus Hand to give the Cardinals an 11-10 advantage. 

Ruland then netted another, giving Plattsburgh a two-goal margin with 59 seconds to go to bring things out of reach for the Lakers. 

In the moments that led up to the crucial pair of goals from Ruland, the Lakers blazed through the first quarter with a 4-2 lead. Senior attacker Hayden Coney accounted for half of the team’s goals and the Cardinals were allowed just eight shots while also being forced into as many turnovers. 

In similar fashion to the first quarter, Coney opened the scoring in the second, putting the Lakers up by three while simultaneously completing a hat trick of his own.

It was a back and forth battle from this point on, though. The Cardinals rallied with a goal of their own, before Keagan Stevens was handed an unnecessary roughness penalty. Three ties – including one of 9-9 heading into the final quarter – and two lead changes were had between the second and third quarters. 

Following the previous goals, the Lakers struggled to gain momentum in the closing quarter. Only eight shots were attempted, with Plattsburgh goalie Cole Orehosky standing tall to save all but one. The Cardinals finished the game on the power play and a 12-10 loss was given to the Lakers. 

The Lakers then mightily struggled on Wednesday, as they were given their third loss of the season and second consecutive defeat at the hands of SUNY Cortland, 23-6.

Both teams were neck and neck within the first five minutes, as the Lakers and Red Dragons both converted on a goal – yet the remainder of the first period gave the Lakers little room to breathe.

After the aforementioned first goal from the Lakers – courtesy of Logan Postel – the Red Dragons allowed the Lakers to convert on just one of eight shots, while also forcing five turnovers to close out the first quarter.

The Red Dragons entered the second quarter with a 6-2 lead and only built on their momentum, converting 46 seconds in. The Lakers showed signs of life with a few efficient clears, ground balls and shots, but the Red Dragons’ attack was ultimately too overpowering. They outscored the Lakers 11-4 in the second and third quarters, with two different players reaching hat-tricks entering the final 15 minutes of play. 

The Lakers found three consecutive goals during the home stretch of the outing, although it was too little, too late. The Red Dragons maintained a double-digit lead and held the Lakers to little offensive production in the final period. 

The Lakers rotated between Seamus Hand and Tyler Novak in net, giving Novak, who collected two saves and allowed five goals, the nod for the final 10 minutes. Hand collected 18 saves and now sits at six wins and two losses on the season.

The Lakers now sit at fourth place in the SUNYAC and just a game under .500 in conference play. Meanwhile, Cortland remains at the top in a tie with SUNY Oneonta as both are 3-0.

The Lakers look to rebound this weekend, when they return home to face SUNY Canton on Saturday, April 11, at Laker Turf. The senior day festivities will kick off at 1 p.m. and honor Trey Jones, Ryan Rogers, Keagan Stevens, Colton Maher, Liam McAlary, Austin Sroda, Hayden Coney, Tyler Novak and Seamus Hand.