In a season of Change for the Oswego State Women's Hockey team, nobody knew what to expect when the season started. The season ended last weekend with new heights reached for the program. The team ended with new club records for wins with 13 and a few other surprises.
The season started with an exhibition against the Aurora Panthers and a 6-2 victory. The 2010-2011 campaign officially got underway with a 2-game weekend series at Adrian College. Game 1 resulted in a 2-0 loss. Game 2 then turned in favor of the Lakers picking up their first win of the year 3-1. First goal of the year came of the stick of Kelly Collins 3:30 into the hockey game. At the beginning of November the first homestand of the season came in the form of a 2-game set against Nationally Ranked Elmira College, who Oswego has had problems with in the past. 1st game of the series Oswego stuns everybody by walking away with a 1-1 tie on home ice. Elmira took the lead on a Tori Charron goal a little over 9 minutes into the 3rd. Oswego roared back 5 minutes later thanks to Kristin Metzger's late game heroics. Nobody could score the rest of the game and Oswego was able to earn a point. The next afternoon however was a different story as Elmira seemed to find their game again and take down the Lakers 3-1, with Mackenzie Lee getting the lone Tally for Oswego. That performance by Oswego was good enough to get them votes in the USCHO National Coaches poll for the first time ever. The rest of November saw Oswego drop both of their games to Utica College on Home Ice, 2-1 and 3-1 scores respectively. They followed that up by going on the road and tying both games at Cortland 1-1 and 2-2.
The last game before the thanksgiving break was just what the Lakers needed as it was a 5-1 victory over Hamilton College on home ice. Providing the offense on this night would be Carly Henderson, Lauren Gilpin, Meagan Big Snake, and a pair from Mackenzie Lee. This win would kick off what would be a 5-game winning streak to end the first half of the season. After knocking off Hamilton, Oswego went on to take down Potsdamn, by scores of 2-1 and 5-2, then beat Sacred Heart for the first time ever, 7-0 and 5-2. During that span, Oswego got 2 goal performances from 3 different playes. Kelly Collins had 2 seperate 2 goal games during the span (12/4 vs Potsdam and 12/11 vs Sacred Heart). Also Megan Howe (12/11 vs Sacred Heart) and Mackenzie Lee (12/10 vs Sacred Heart) had 2 goal games. So Oswego ended the first half of the year at a record of 6-4-3 and 2-4-3 in ECAC West play.
Riding high of the 5-game winning streak to end the first half Oswego could not keep up that momentum to start the 2nd Half as they split a weekend road trip to Neumann. The first game went in favor of the Knights 3-1 while Oswego turned around the next day and beat Neumann by the same 3-1 score. Oswego then kept the 3 game road trip going to Hamilton College, however it was in a losing effort as Hamilton walked away with a 7-4 victory. The Lakers started the 2nd half of the season at home with a weekend sweep of Chatham University on the 22nd and 23rd of January. On the 22nd Emi Williams picked up the shutout as Oswego rolled over Chatham 6-0. Scoring for the Lakers were Kelly Collins, Jillian Bergeron, Megan Howe, Carly Henderson, Emily Grippin and Melissa Seamont. The following afternoon Oswego hung another 6-spot on the Cougars, rolling to a 6-2 victory. Emi Williams was again victorious in net and providing the offense was a pair of goals from Lauren Gilpin, Kelly Collins, Mackenzie Lee, Jillian Bergeron and Megan Howe.
Oswego ended the Month of January at one of the toughest buildings in Division 3 hockey to play in, the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena in Plattsburgh against the Plattsburgh State Cardinals. The closer of the 2 games came on January 28th as Plattsburgh walked away with a 2-1 victory. Brenna Weber scored Oswego's lone goal. The next day Plattsburgh's offense erupted for 6 goals as they downed the Lakers 6-2. Mackenzie Lee scored both of Oswego's goals.Oswego's final weekend series happened to be senior weekend as Buffalo State made the trip to the Campus Center. Oswego took the first game of the set by a 3-1 score. Emi williams got the win and got offensive support from Kelly Collins, Brenna Weber, and Sarah Hannon. Senior day was the next day and the team got to send the Seniors out right. Oswego beat Buff. State 3-0. Emi Williams got her 4th career shutoout and Kelly Collins, Sarah Hannon, and Carly Henderson provided the offense.
Next up was the toughest test of all for the Lakers, the final road trip of the season to Frank Ritter Arena to play, at the time, teh #1 ranked RIT TIgers. RIT took the 1st game of the weekend by a 3-1 score. Oswego had set the tone with Jillian Bergeron scoring 21 seconds into the game, but RIT was too much on this night and scored 3 unanswered to take it. The next day proved to be the greatest game in the history of this program as Oswego did what many thought was impossible. They beat the best team in the nation the RIT Tigers by a score of 2-1. Mackenzie Lee and Olivia Boersen provided the offense and Emi Williams made 46 saves to preserve the victory. RIT outshot the Lakers 47-10 but Oswego held on long enough for the victory. After this game RIT was no longer undefeated and no longer #1 in the nation. It was by far the biggest win in the history of the Oswego State Women's Hockey Team. The regular season ended with a 4-1 win over Caselton State at home, before losing in the playoffs to Neumann in double OT.
Oswego finished the season with an overall record of 13-10-3 and a 8-7-3 recored in ECAC West play. The 13 wins recorded by the team is a new club record. Leading the team in scoring this year was Transfer Mackenzie Lee with 15 goals and 24 points. The 15 Goals Lee scored tied the single season club record for goals, which was set by Jessica Lister in 2006-2007. Lee's 24 Points is now the single season record for the Lakers. Originally the record had been 22 points in a season which was set by Jessica Lister in 2006-2007 by Lee beat the record by 2 points. Coming in 2nd in scoring was Freshman Megan Howe, who recorded 7 goals and 12 assists good for 19 points. Howe's 12 assists ties the single season assists record, along with the 12 helpers Erica Shapey had in 2007-2008. Jillian Bergeron and Kelly Collins now move into a 4-way tie for 2nd place in program history in total points with 36. They join Stephanie Esposito and Angie Friesen. They trail the programs all time leading scorer Jenna Kirkwood by 11 points heading into next season.
This was the final season of play for 5 seniors on the club, Goalie Emi Williams, Defensmen Brenna Weber and Megan Big Snake and Forwards Sarah Hannon and Emily Grippin. First we start with Emi Williams. Williams finishes her college career having played in 65 games a career record of 24-36-3 with 7 Shutouts a 2.56 GAA, and a .921 SV%. Emi has been the backbone of the team for the past 4 years and will be sourly missed in net. As for the blueline the team says goodbye to Brenna Weber (77 GP 4G 12A 16P) and Megan Big Snake (77 GP 1G 5A 6P). Both have been solid defensemen over the last 4 years. Both have done a great job of shutting down the oposition and making Emi William's job a little bit easier. Finally the forwards Emily Grippin (90 GP 13G 12A 25P), and Sarah Hannon (93 PG 10G 12A 22P). Grippin was one of the team's most reliable centers and without a doubt the fastest skater on the club, while Hannon was one of the more hard working forwards. The two without a doubt are going to leave a big hole to fill on the PK unit next season.
Ladies Thank You SO MUCH for the memories this past season. It was truly an honor and a privlege to watch the team this year. And to the Seniors; thank you so much for your dedication and passion over the past 4 years. This team, this college, and this town will miss you all very much We wish you nothing but the best of luck in all your future endovures.
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