OSWEGO, N.Y. – Oswego Field Hockey returned to Laker Turf Stadium for an out of conference matchup against former SUNYAC foe, the SUNY Geneseo Knights. Looking to break both their 3-game losing skid and Geneseo's 3-game winning streak, the Lakers hit the pitch with fire in their bellies. The matchup quickly turned into a test of resilience on both ends of the field. A valiant effort on defense by the Lakers made an impact but just would not be enough to shut down the Knights' offensive prowess.  
 
THE BASICS 
 
Final Score:  
Oswego 0 (1-5, 0-0 SUNYAC) 
Geneseo 7 (5-1, 0-0 Empire 8) 
  
Location: Laker Turf Stadium | Oswego, N.Y.  
HOW IT HAPPENED 
A strong center pass would start the Knights off on a forward foot, but a prepared Oswego squad did not hesitate to jump on plays, disrupting Geneseo's initial momentum. As both teams settled, the Knights earned entry to the Lakers' circle and the first penalty corner of the game. A controlled insert found the stick of opposing midfielder Shannon Cunningham, setting herself up for a hefty drive. Despite solid contact, junior Natalie Shields stood tall in her way, blocking Cunningham's attempt. A rebound generated off Shields' block would be buried by Sam Lewis, securing the first tally of the game just 1:49 into play. While the 1^st quarter continued to unfold the Knights maintained offensive control, making it difficult for Oswego to break out and find some rhythm. As the clock began to wither, Geneseo collected another goal off their third corner attempt, extending their lead to 2-0 heading into the second quarter.  

Hungry for a turn on offense, the Lakers wasted no time heading North. A persistent effort would allow them to break over the 25-yard threshold, but this energy still wouldn't be enough to penetrate Geneseo's circle. The Knights were unphased by Oswego's surge, re-establishing their offense in the following minutes. A hard goal-line drive by Aubree Wenner collapsed the Laker defense, leaving teammate Ava Harman alone out front to net a 3^rd goal at the 11:13 mark. Oswego would have to grit it out on defense for another series of minutes as the Knights showed no signs of slowing down, attaching a fourth goal to the scoreline at 9:22. With halftime on the horizon, Geneseo continued to churn out penalty corners, pushing their lead to 5-0 before the intermission.  

Halftime would allow the Lakers to catch their breath and harness some motivation from Head Coach, Caitlin Hoover's, pep talk. Hoover's words would seem to resonate with her players as Oswego returned to play with a fresh wave of energy. Finding their legs in the midfield, the Lakers would earn a brief turn on offense but would be swiftly reverted to defense by a steadfast Geneseo offense. Oswego would remain on defense for much of the rest of the quarter, managing to reject all scoring attempts made by the Knights; maintaining their 5-0 deficit entering the final frame.  

Despite their lead, Geneseo did not let up, continuing to hound the Lakers for every ball. This insistent attitude continued to pay off in the final minutes, as the Knights would go on to collect another pair of goals before the final buzzer, securing a 7-0 win over Oswego.  

WHAT'S NEXT 
Oswego Field Hockey will have a quick turnaround, travelling to Rochester, N.Y. this Friday, September 19^th, 2025, to face off against the University of Rochester Yellowjackets. The game is set to commence at 4:00PM in Edwin Fauver Stadium. Go Lakers! 
 
Written By: Matilda Pethrick