OSWEGO, N.Y. – Oswego Women's Lacrosse returned to home turf this afternoon, after a successful weekend on the road, to host the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons. Looking to continue their 6-game winning streak and head into Senior Day with some positive momentum, the Lakers came out firing. After earning an early two-goal lead in the first quarter, the Lakers would find themselves fighting off a relentless Cortland squad for the remainder of the game. As the contest continued to unfold, the Dragons began to find some momentum, pulling ahead 6-5 just before halftime. A back-and-forth start to the 3rd quarter would keep both teams on their toes, leaving a 7-7 scoreline to be settled in the final frame. Cortland would throw the first punch in the fourth quarter with a goal just over a minute in, but Oswego finished the fight, pulling away with a 10-8 victory, for the first time ever in program history, over the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons.
Heading into today's game, the Lakers have been taking on the Red Dragons since 1995 and have never won a match-up. Also, the Red Dragons carried a 41 game SUNYAC win streak into this afternoon's contest.
THE BASICS
Final Score:
Oswego 10 (9-2, 5-0 SUNYAC)
Cortland 8 (6-5, 4-1 SUNYAC)
Location: Laker Turf Stadium | Oswego, N.Y.
HOW IT HAPPENED
A solid draw direction by Alexis Hill would be picked up and quickly passed up field by Julia Quirk. Wasting no time, the Lakers would only need a couple passes to set up sophomore Cassidy Croce to bury the first goal of the contest on the doorstep of opposing netminder Trinity Parks just 0:33 seconds in. Oswego would set up a similar play off the following draw, awarding Mackenzie Winn with the second tally, less than a minute later, at 13:37. As Cortland started to find their rhythm, they would make good on their first turn on offense, lessening the deficit to 2-1 at the 9:30 mark. Both teams would trade free-position opportunities in the next minutes, but neither would find the back of the net. Red Dragon, Toni Cashman, would evade the sights of Alana Iacovissi with a heater from the top of the fan, but would be stripped of her goal and carded for dangerous propelling. A lockdown defensive effort by Alexis Hill would force a turnover, awarding Oswego a chance on offense on which she would secure a free position shot and goal to close out the 1st quarter.
Hungry for more, the Lakers continued to dominate off the draw, generating consistent possession in the beginning minutes of the second quarter. Back-to-back green cards would have Madison Davis and Noelle Smith in the box together, but not for long as a Cortland goal would release them both 0:25 seconds into their stay. As play returned to even-strength, Davis redeemed herself with a quick goal off a feed from Croce at 12:34. A sudden surge in physicality caused a scoreless spell to ensue, following Oswego's fourth goal, but this drought would finally be broken by a goal notched by Cortland attackman, Brooke Elizalde, at the 8:20 mark. Without hesitation, Oswego responded almost immediately with a fifth goal at 7:31, maintaining their two-goal lead. Tired of trailing behind, the Red Dragons started to find some momentum, pocketing an equalizer goal with 4:31 remaining in the half. Keeping the pressure on in Oswego's defensive zone, Cortland kept earning chances, pulling ahead 6-5 with a free-position goal just before the buzzer.
Determined to add to their lead, the Dragons were jumping off the draw, but the Lakers were unwilling to lay down just yet. A back-and-forth series of starting minutes would keep both programs on their toes, but despite a handful of quality chances at either ends the score would remain 6-5 in Cortland's favor. Eager to change this would be first year Aubrianna Green who would find the bottom of the net off a diving effort at the 7:35 mark. Play would be stopped momentarily as Green would receive some attention for an injury acquired in the scuffle in front of the net. As play resumed, the Red Dragons found a way to reclaim a one-goal lead. Undeterred, the Lakers did not let up, sending the game into the final frame tied 7-7.
Set on success, Red Dragon Mia Mitchell would secure Cortland's final goal to the scoresheet just a minute and twenty seconds into the fourth quarter. Nowhere near giving up, a persistent Madison Davis would level the playing field once again with a powerful shot off a roll out from X, at 11:34. Keeping their foot on the gas, Oswego added a tie-breaking ninth tally to the board on the next trip up the field. Cortland head coach Kelsey Van Alstyne called a timeout to give her Dragons a plan of action, but that would be dismantled by another dagger of a goal notched by Davis at the 8:55 mark. As the final minutes started to approach, the Dragons struggled to stay out of the penalty box, giving the Lakers numerous man-up advantages. Although Cortland would find a last-ditch offensive break, Oswego kept them at bay, pulling away with a 10-8 victory, for the first time ever in program history, over the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons.
WHAT'S NEXT
Oswego Women's Lacrosse will have a quick turnaround, hosting the SUNY Plattsburgh Cardinals this Saturday, April 12th for a SUNYAC Senior Day matchup. Come out to Laker Turf Stadium to support the Class of 2025, opening draw is set to commence at 11:00AM. Go Lakers!
Written By: Matilda Pethrick
@OswegoAthletics | FB: OswegoAthleticsOfficial | IG: oswegoathletics
