Oswego state Women Sweep Cortland; Clinch 3 Seed

Going into the final weekend of the season, the Oswego State Women's Hockey team had already clinched themselves a playoff spot in ECAC West play. Now it was can they lock themselves up a high seed in the tournament? The answer was a resounding yes. After struggling the last few weeks as part of a three game losing streak, Oswego closed out the regular season with a weekend set in Cortland against the Red Dragons. In program history, Oswego is 7-0-7 against Cortland, and 3-0-3 in Cortland. All games played between these two clubs have been close contests, and these games were no different.

First up was a Friday night contest between the two clubs, both teams fighting it out for playoff spots. Oswego controlled the play early on, and it helped. leading Oswego to a 3-2 victory to snap their three game losing streak. Oswego outshot Cortland 15-6 in the opening period but Cortland got on the board first thanks to Chelsey Wright's 8th goal of the year at the 8:06 mark. However Oswego would finally even things up at one, when at the 18:56 mark Chelsea Hunt scored her 3rd of the year, a powerplay goal, to get Oswego back to even ground going into the intermission. Hunt's goal was the first one by a Laker player in over three hockey games. Before that, Lizzy Marks was the last Laker to score a goal when she found the back of the net late in the first game against Stevenson on January 26th, so it snapped a LONG goal less drought for Oswego as well.

To the 2nd period we go, and Cortland started to show a little more life. Oswego outshot Cortland 15-10 in the middle period, but Cortland had really picked their play up. The Red Dragons retook the lead at the 6:35 mark thanks to Maggie Giamo's 11th of the season. Oswego would answer back at the 9:45 mark of the period when Melissa Seamont scored her 9th of the year to once again tie the score. So the teams were tied at two going into the 3rd period. Cortland outplayed Oswego in the 3rd, outshooting the Lakers 10-4. Oswego however got the last laugh in when at the 2:31 mark Jocelyn St. Clair scored her 3rd of the season and it proved to be the winner as the Lakers held on for the 3-2 win.

Deanna Meunier took the loss for Cortland, dropping her record to 6-12-1 on the year, while making 31 saves in the loss. Bridget Smith picked up the win for Oswego, improving her record to 10-7-1, while making 24 saves in the victory. Melissa Seamont (goal assist) and Jocelyn St. Clair (goal assist) had two points each, while Chelsea Hunt (goal) and Emma Smetaniuk (assist) picked up a point each.

The Red Dragons and Lakers faced off against each other again the following afternoon in the final game of the regular season for both clubs, and with potential final playoff spots on the line for both teams. As it was the night before, this was another low scoring contest, and as it was the night before, Oswego walked away with another victory, this time by a 3-1 score. The only excitement in the first period was provided by Cortland. Maggie Giamo scored her 12th of the season just 11 seconds into the hockey game to give the Red Dragons a 1-0 lead. It would be not only the lone goal scored in the period, but the lone goal for Cortland all afternoon. Each team took six shots in that opening period. Oswego controlled play in the 2nd period, outshooting Cortland 12-8 in the middle frame and scoring a pair of goals. First at the 11:00 mark Breanne Reith scored her 2nd goal of the year, and her 2nd career goal, to tie the game at one. Then at the 19:50 mark Emma Smetaniuk scored her 5th of the season, and 2nd in as many days, to give Oswego a 2-1. Jocelyn St Clair would put the game away at the 7:50 mark of the 3rd period to seal a 3-1 victory for Oswego, despite Cortland's late charge in the 3rd period.

Deanna Meunier again took the loss for Cortland, dropping her overall record to 6-13-1, while making 20 saves in the loss. Tori Trovato picked up the win for Oswego, improving her record on the year to 2-3-0, while making 23 saves in the win. St. Clair (goal), Smetaniuk (goal), Reith (goal), Olivia Boersen (assist), and Bailee Goodon (assist) picked up points on the day for Oswego.

So with the victories over the weekend, Oswego moved to 12-11-1 overall on the season, and 10-6-0 in ECAC West play. That 10-6-0 record in conference was good enough for Oswego to finish in 3rd place and guarantee them a home playoff game next weekend in Oswego. This is indeed a major accomplishment for the team who had only 17 players on the roster and was projected in pre-season polls to finish out of the playoffs. That speaks volumes as to how well this hockey team did this season and how dedication and hard work can really pay off. Congratulations to the team and a hard earned and very well deserved 3rd place finish. Preview of the playoff game will be posted on the blog later on this week!

(Photo provided by the Oswego State Sports Information Department)