OSWEGO, N.Y. – Oswego Field Hockey hosted the University of Rochester Yellowjackets this morning in a non-conference matchup. The game got off to a quick start, with both teams ready to battle. An early goal by the Jackets would set the tone early, but Oswego would not be deterred, tying the game up in the second quarter. The game would remain tied until Rochester found the back of the net off a corner attempt in the third. Despite their 2-1 lead, a hungry Yellowjacket squad would not let up in the 4th quarter, keeping the Lakers in their defensive zone, securing a 2-1 victory.
THE BASICS
Final Score:
Oswego 1 (2-4, 0-0 SUNYAC),
University of Rochester 2 (8-0, 0-0 Liberty League)
Location: Laker Turf Stadium | Oswego, N.Y.
HOW IT HAPPENED
A nice start by Oswego would give the Lakers the first offensive possession of the game, but a strong Rochester defensive line would keep the ball out of shooting range. Play would remain neutral in the following minutes, until the Yellowjackets gained their first penalty corner opportunity. A deceptive shooting play by Rochester would give Kristina Fedorova a clear shooting lane, in which her shot would find the stick of teammate Hannah Mehta. Mehta managed to tip the ball over the head of Laker goalkeeper Sam Krautheim, putting Rochester on the board first at 6:28 of the first quarter. On the following play, Oswego returned a promising corner play of their own but would be unsuccessful. As the 1st quarter came to a close, the Yellowjackets controlled the pace of play and tested Oswego's defense.
Both teams traded penalty corners in the opening minutes of the second quarter, but neither would add to the tally. A few big saves from Krautheim and a solid defensive effort from the Lakers would keep an eager Rochester offense at bay. A quick transition by Oswego would send them into the Jackets' circle. A good drive by first year Makayla Caldwell generated a foul and crucial penalty corner opportunity for Oswego. The Lakers would be rewarded for a quality corner play and battle in front of Rochester's net, when Caldwell put the ball between the legs of Jacket goaltender Kara Houston at 25:18. Both teams would head into halftime tied 1-1.
A hungry Rochester squad gave the Lakers no time to settle in, pushing the pace of play off the whistle. Oswego responded well, shutting out the Jackets on defense and deterring two promising corner efforts. The scoreline would remain tied until Hannah Mehta found the back of the net, once again, off Rochester's third corner opportunity at the 37:00-minute mark. A nice clear by the Laker defense would send Oswego down the field on the following play, and a determined circle entry would provide Oswego with their first corner of the quarter at 37:19. As the fourth quarter approached, the match continued to be a back-and-forth battle, at both ends of the field, but Yellowjackets would maintain their 2-1 lead.
Despite their 2-1 lead, Rochester did not let up, continually pushing the pace and earning corner attempt after corner attempt. As the time ticked down, the Lakers began to lose steam and struggled to clear the ball out of their defensive zone, resulting in a 2-1 loss to the Yellowjackets on home turf.
WHAT'S NEXT
Oswego Field Hockey will begin another on the road stretch when travel to Geneseo, N.Y. this Wednesday, September 25th to play former conference foe, the SUNY Geneseo Knights, under the lights in College Stadium at 7:00 PM.
Written By: Matilda Pethrick
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