Oswego State Women's Hockey Look to Build off Last Season's Success

After another strong season last year, head coach Diane Dillon looks to lead her Lakers back into the ECAC West playoffs for the third year in a row. Last season, the club finished 11-14-2, and 8-8-2 in ECAC West play. In the opening round of the ECAC West playoffs, the team avenged the double overtime loss the year before to Neuman by pitching a 3-0 shutout win at home. It was the first playoff home game and the first playoff win in program history. Sadly, due to graduation and factors beyond the control of the team, a good chunk of last years team is now gone. Seven of the top eight scores from last years team are gone, so head coach Diane Dillion and new assistant coach Chelsea Walkland are going to have their work cut out for them this season.

This years club has lost a lot of talent compared to last year. Its captain and best defenseman from a year ago, Kathryn Sbrocchi, as well as high scoring forwards Kelly Collins, Jillian Bergeron, Mackenzie Lee, Leah McNaughten, and Lauren Gilpin, and goalie Megan Amlinger are all gone from the team because of graduation. Also no longer on the team, due to reasons beyond the control of the team and players, are Megan Howe, Carly Henderson, Emily Marks, Carly Marchement, and Chelsey Draker. So with a loss of that much valuable talent, the coaching staff had a fair share of rebuilding to do to go along with the talent that is still on the team.

So now with Kathryn Sbrocchi gone due to graduation, the question is who is going to take over as Captain of this hockey club? That distinction falls to Olivia Boersen. Boersen enters her junior year and takes over the leadership role on a very young hockey club, so she has some huge responsibilities to live up to. Helping Boersen with the leadership will be new Alternate Captain Jocelyn St. Clair. St. Clair has been a steady calming influence from the blue line with a great blend of offensive skill and defensive coverage. Often looked at as the team's best defender, St Clair is going to be counted on to help Boresen carry the leadership role.

Now due to graduation and outside forces, the team lost seven of its top eight scores from last year. So Diane Dillon is going to have to count on some of her forwards to really step their game up this season. Juniors Mady Paul, Melissa Seamont, and Emma Smetaniuk, along with Boersen and five freshmen, will try to fill the void left by the loss of talent. Seamont finished third on the team in scoring in 2011-12 with 16 points (six goals and ten assists), but will be looked to improve her offensive numbers.

One newcomer who stands out is junior transfer forward Megan Hagg. She comes to the Lakers following two seasons at Division I Quinnipiac University. Joining Hagg to help bolster the offense is freshman Bianca Camillaci, Erin Ganley, Bailee Goodon and Lizzy Marks. This crop of talent will go far in blending well with the talent already in place up front. Combining this with the skillset of Paul, Seamont, Smetaniuk, and Boersen, there is enough talent, that if everybody stays healthy, they will be really competitive in ECAC West this season.

As for the blue line, Jocelyn St Clair has plenty of help returning to the team this year. Senior Brea Reith, and juniors Chelsea Hunt, and Leslie Jarvis are going to try hard keep their team goals against average low. last year they had the fourth best team goals against in the ECAC West. Joining this group on the blueline is freshman Jayme McCreary. McCreary will be counted on to step in and make a big impact and fast in order for this team to continue it's success.

Finally we take a look at the last line of defense, that being the goaltending. Returning from last season are the teams two top netminders in Junior Catherine Côté and sophomore Bridget Smith. Both Smith and Cote split the position last year, and look to battle for the top goalie spot. After Côté suffered an injury, Smith stepped into the starting role, and ran with the starting job as long as she could. By the end of the campaign, both goalies recorded similar statistics as Côté logged 800 minutes and posted a 2.77 goals against average while Smith registered over 750 minutes and had a 2.16 goals against average. Smith was in net and got the win when Oswego beat Neuman at home in the playoffs, so Smith has proven she can play big in the big game situations. Joining Smith and Cote between the pipes is freshman Tori Trovato. Trovato will help get Cote and Smith to the top of their game, along with trying to get some playing time herself. Goaltending will once again be a strength for Oswego.

One large difference between this season and last is that ECAC West powerhouse RIT has moved up to Division I. RIT moving up leaves a void at the top of the conference for any team to slid into, as well as points up for grabs. This favors Oswego and everybody else in the division. There is still two more BIG obstacles in the form of Plattsburgh and Elmira. In the history of the program Oswego has yet to get a win over either team. They had tied a game two years ago against Elmira at home, but that is as close as they have come to beating either team. The season kicks off with an exhibition game against the Toronto Miget Aeros. Then it continues with a tournement in New England, followed by weekend series with Utica, Potsdam, Neuman, Plattsburgh, Elmira and Cortland just to name a few. To see the full schedule, click here.

So there you have it. The Oswego State Women's Hockey team is primed and ready for another exciting season of Hockey action. What will this season bring? Only one way to find out!