Oswego State Women Earn First Win with Split of Utica

Four games into the 2012-13 season, the Oswego State Women's Hockey team finally have their first win of the season after splitting a two game weekend series against Utica. The action started last Friday night at the Aud in Utica. Unfortunately for Oswego, they weren't able to muster up enough offense and were defeated by the Pioneers by a 3-1 score. Oswego got on the board first at the 10:34 mark of the 2nd period when captain Olivia Boersen scored her first of the year. The lead din't last however as Utica scored twice before the end of the period. Morgan Reed and Megan McMahon found the back of the net to give the Pioneers a 2-1 lead after two periods of play. One one goal was scored in the third period, and it came at the 18:39 mark off the stick of Utica's Carmen Johnson. Jennifer Hamel stopped 23 of the 24 shots she faced, while Catherine Cote stopped 25 of 28 shots she faced. So after Friday night the Lakers are still looking for thier first win of the season.

Saturday night the scene shifted to the Campus Center in Oswego as the same two teams played again. This time the result was totally different as Oswego was able to hang on to a 5-3 victory for its first win of the season. The Laker offense exploded with three first period goals to get the ball rolling. Melissa Seamont got things going 1:11 into the game, followed by Emma Smetaniuk at 8:28 and finally Olivia Boersen aty 15:12 to give Oswego a 3-0 lead after one. No scoring could be done by either team in the middle frame so Oswego held that 3-0 lead after two periods of play. Finally in the 3rd period, Utica cracked the scoresheet as Megan Myers put Utica on the board at the 4:29 mark. Oswego would regain a three goal lead when at the 15:28 mark Mady Paul scored shorthanded. Megan Meyers and Brittany Dellechiaie would connect for Utica to cut the Oswego lead down to 4-3 with about three minutes remaining in regulation. Oswego put the game away when Melissa Seamont hit an empty netter with 48 seconds left to seal the 5-3 victory.

Jennifer Hamel made 13 saves in the loss while her counterpart Bridget Smith stopped 29 shots in the victory. Aside from this being Oswego's first win of the season, there was another fact that struck me as a little concerning for the team. Oswego State took ten penalties totaling 31 minutes in the hockey game. The one penalty that did the most damage to the team was captain Olivia Boersen getting hit with a five minute major for hitting from behind and a 10 minute game disqualification. All of this took place 38 seconds into the 3rd period. No word yet as to whether Boersen will be playing on Friday night or not due to the penalty trouble. A big statement was made by the Oswego penalty killers, only allowing one powerplay goal for Utica during their eight powerplays.

After the smoke cleared this weekend, Melissa Seamont is the Lakers leading scorer with four points on two goals and two assists. Right behind her is Olivia Boersen, Mady Paul and Megan Hagg with two points each.  Goaltending duties have been split up pretty evenly between Catherine Cote, Bridget Smith and Tori Trovato. Next up for Oswego on the Ice is a weekend home series against the Potsdam Bears. Friday night November 9th puck drops at 7pm and Saturday November 10th puck drops at 3pm, with both games taking place at the Campus center in Oswego!

(Photo Provided by Oswego State Sports Information Department)