Oswego Senior Weekend Spoiled By Elmira

This Past weekend the Oswego State Women's Hockey team held its annual Senior Weekend, where they honor the seniors on the hockey team every year. This year the lone senior was defenseman, and East St. Paul, Manitoba native Breanne Reith. This year's senior weekend was a tough test for the Lakers though as it was a two game weekend set against the #3 nationally ranked Elmira Soaring Eagles. Oswegom struggled in both games, and were shut out both times by Elmira in very hard fought contests.

First up was a close matchup Friday night that Elmira narrowly came away with a 2-0 victory. Caitlin Metcalf scored her 9th of the year, a powerplay goal, at the 5:43 mark of the 1st period to get Elmira on the board. Erin Weston would put the game away at the 17:05 mark of the 2nd period, her 5th of the year. Oswego, for the most part, kept this a close hockey game. Oswego actually outshot and outplayed Elmira in the first period, outshooting the Soaring Eagles 9-5, but Elmira had the one goal lead. Elmira dominated play in the 2nd period, outshooting Oswego 14-3 and had the 2-0 lead. Oswego showed life in the 3rd period, again outshooting Elmira 8-7 but it wasn't enough as Elmira held on for the victory.

Lauren Sullivan got the win for Elmira, improving her record on the year to 10-2-1, as she made 20 saves in the shutout. Bridget Smith took the loss for Oswego, dropping her record to 9-6-1, as she made 24 saves in the tough loss.

That was Friday night. These same two teams met again Saturday afternoon on Senior Day in Oswego. However things went south quickly for Oswego as Elmira dominated from start to finish, skating away with a 6-0 victory. Cassidy Delainey and Madison Johnston scored in the first, Olivia Nystrom and Ashton Hogan scored in the 2nd, and Tanis Lamoureux and Mary-Kate Gellerman did the scoring in the 3rd. Elmira outshot Oswego 61-9 for the entire hockey game. The Soaring Eagles just dominated from start to finish. Lauren Sullivan got her 2nd shutout in as many days, making 9 saves and improving her record to 11-2-1. Bridget Smith took the loss for Oswego, dropping her record to 9-7-1, while she made 55 saves in the loss.

This weekend sweep has now put Oswego into a three game loosing streak and under 500 for the first time since mid-November. In this three game skid, Oswego has been shut out all three times. The last time Oswego scored a goal was in a 5-1 win over Stevenson on January 26th. Lizzy Marks was the last Laker to find the back of the net when she scored a power play goal late in the 3rd period of that game.

This year Oswego honored the only senior on the team, defenseman Breanne Reith. Reith, a native of East St Paul Manitoba, is a hard charging stay at home defenseman who was best known for the physical brand of hockey she played every single night. In the 81 games she has played in she has a goal and four assists for five career points. Her presence will be sourly missed on the blue line next season.

Oswego closes out the regular season with a weekend series in Cortland as they take on the Red Dragons. game one is this Friday the 15th at 7PM and the final game of the regular season is Saturday the 16th at 2PM!

(Photo provided by the Oswego State Sports Information Department)