SWEGO, N.Y. -- Oswego Women's Hockey officially opened their 2025-26 campaign with a non-conference matchup against the Castleton Spartans. After splitting their exhibition games 1-1, the Lakers were determined to start their season off on good foot. But so were the Spartans, notching the first goal of the game halfway through the first period. Castleton managed to double their lead with a shorthanded score late in the second. Despite outshooting the Spartans, 38-31, the Lakers were unable to find the back of the net, falling 3-0 after a final empty-netter dagger.  
 

THE BASICS  
 
Final Score:  

Oswego 0 (0-1-0, 0-0-0 SUNYAC)   

Castleton 3 (1-0-0, 0-0-0 LEC) 

Location: Deborah F. Stanely Ice Arena | Oswego, N.Y.  

HOW IT HAPPENED 

The Lakers came out hot, finding each other and completing passing plays in every zone of the ice. Castleton matched Oswego's excited energy, applying heavy pressure in corner battles and a few early shots of their own. A bobbled puck by a Laker defenseman would catch Oswego on their heels, sending Spartan Meg Aiken down the ice to notch the first goal of the game at 9:24. Unphased, the Lakers regained offensive positioning on the following play, continuing to find looks around the net and put shots on opposing netminder Gianna McCusker. Unable to level to score in the final minutes, Oswego looked to change the momentum in the second period.  

Less than a minute into the second frame the Lakers would find themselves on their second penalty kill of the game. Disrupting all quality chances attempted by Castleton on the powerplay, Oswego would return to even strength unscathed. For much of the rest of the period, the Lakers continued to dominate but still could not find the back of the net. Oswego would finally earn their first advantage at the 17:29 mark, but it would be short-lived as Moa Carlsson got a good jump on another bobbled Laker puck, giving her headway on a breakaway. Carlsson would double the score with a nice short-side high rip at 17:44.  

Oswego would start the third period on a penalty kill but continued to push the pace on offense and apply pressure at both ends of the ice. The 3rd would be a quiet period regarding scoring, despite 4 powerplay attempts shared between the two teams, but a final empty net dagger at the 17:49 mark would secure a 3-0 victory for the Spartans.  

WHAT'S NEXT  

Oswego Women's Hockey will have a quick turnaround, returning to action tomorrow afternoon for the second game of their home opener series against the Castleton Spartans. Puck drop is set for 3:00PM. Go Lakers! 

Written by Matilda Pethrick 

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