Record Setting Weekend For Oswego State Women's Hockey

This past weekend was a record setting one for the Oswego State Women's Hockey team. Both on an individual level and for the program as a whole. Stevenson University was the opponent for both games this past weekend, with Oswego taking both games to sweep the series. Friday night's win was a century mark for Head Coach Diane Dillon, while the win Saturday set a new school record for wins in a season, this coming on Senior Day.

Diane Dillon has been the only head coach that the Oswego State Women's Hockey program has ever known. She was tabbed as the coach when the team was brought back in 2006. Prior to her time as Oswego's head coach, she had spent five years as an assistant coach, among other duties, at her alma matter Cornell University.

So now heading into Friday night's action, Coach Dillon sits just one win shy of the magic 100 number. It didn't have to wait much longer. Thanks to the goal scoring efforts of Brianna Rice's 2nd period Powerplay goal and Olivia Ellis marker 35 seconds into the 3rd period proved to be more than enough offense. Senior goalie Bridget Smith made 20 saves in the shutout win, helping coach Dillon land career win #100. After the game, goalies Bridget Smith and team captain Tori Trovato were able to catch the coach with the Gatorade shower after the victory.

That wasn't the only milestone hit by the hockey club on the weekend. Oswego's previous record for wins in a season had been 16, which they set just a season ago. Now with the win Friday night, it was the 17th of the year for the team, setting a new program record for wins in a year. Saturday, the team added to that by picking up their 18th win of the year. It came on Senior day, a strong 5-2 win over Stevenson University, to complete the weekend sweep. Olivia Ellis, Alexa Aramburu (on the powerplay), Ashley Lyman, Andrea Noss (on the powerplay), and Brianna Rice (also on the Powerplay) provided the offense in this game. The lone senior on the team, Bridget Smith, held the fort down, allowing just two goals on 31 shots. Smith closed out her home career with a 34-16-4 career record, picking up 13 shutots in that outstanding four years of service. Those 13 shutouts are the school record. The season isn't over yet, as the team still has two more games to go, both in Elmira this Saturday and Sunday. Oswego has yet to pick up a win against the Soaring Eagles in their history, having a record of 0-17-1 lifetime against Elmira.

So two big numbers have fallen in one weekend. Oswego's 18 wins this season are a new school record (hopefully climbing in the final two games of the year against Elmira). Prior to this year, the school record for best record was set last year, when the team went 17-9-1. Also fallen was the fact that Diane Dillon hit the 100 win mark. Her coaching record at Oswego now sits at 101-110-14. Slowly but surely, Coach Dillon's record as head coach here at Oswego is climbing back up to .500. Considering where things looked when the program started, to where they are right now, this team and program has taken big steps in the right direction. Coach Dillon has done an outstanding job of getting the right players into the program to become a better hockey team and contend in the national rankings.

So congratulations to the team for setting the new single season record for wins and, just as important, congratulations to Diane Dillon for hitting victory #100!

(Photo provided by Oswego State Athletics)