OSWEGO, N.Y. -- The Oneonta field hockey team outplayed Oswego on the road for a crucial 2-0 SUNYAC win Saturday afternoon. Senior
Molly Miller (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) scored the game-winning goal in the second quarter, then she assisted junior
Alexandra Howell (Holtsville, N.Y./Sachem East) in the fourth quarter for Howell's 10th goal of the season, which leads the conference. Senior
Maura Leib (East Syracuse, N.Y./East Syracuse Minoa) recorded her 10th career shutout and became the fourth Red Dragon in program history to reach that milestone, the first since Erica Szelkowski '00. Leib also became the seventh Red Dragon keeper to record 25 career wins as the team improved to 8-4 this season, 2-1 in the SUNYAC, and the Lakers dropped to 4-9 overall and 0-3 in conference play.
After a quiet opening period, Oneonta gained the upper hand early in the second and scored at 16:04. Junior
Abigail Draper (Remsen, NY/Holland Patent) carried the ball inside the shooting circle and passed it eight yards in front of the cage to Miller, who turned around and fired the ball over the Lakers' keeper into the far side of the cage. The goal was Miller's fifth of the season, which is tied for the eighth most in the conference, and Draper is now tied for second in the SUNYAC with seven assists.
Howell had several shots on cage throughout the match and finally bested the keeper and added the Red Dragons' insurance goal to the board with less than two minutes to play at 58:40. Oneonta had the ball on the right side of the field and worked it into the scoring circle to sophomore
Miranda Colacchio (Lagrange, N.Y.). Colacchio gave a quick pass between two Oswego defenders to Miller, and she sent the ball in front of the cage to Howell, who ripped it past the outstretched keeper for the goal.
Leib finished the game with two saves, with both saves happening in the final quarter. The first shot was taken by Alexa Snyder at 49:42 during an Oswego penalty corner play, then in the final 30 seconds she stopped Sophia Prianti's shot to maintain the shutout victory.
Sam Krauthiem finished with eight saves for Oswego.
The Red Dragons outshot the Lakers 15-9 in total shots, 10-2 with shots on goal, while Oswego had a 5-4 edge in penalty corners.
Oneonta returns to the field on Saturday, October 18, for a SUNYAC match against Salisbury at 12 pm on All College Field.
