A Bigger Day Than the Scoreboard – Head Coach Andrew Daly Reflecting on Senior Day 

Scoring 26 goals shows skill; allowing 9 proves discipline. 

Senior Day for the Oswego State men’s lacrosse team was more than a game. It was a chance to celebrate leadership and legacy, both on and off the field. 

The Oswego Lakers faced off against the SUNY Canton Kangaroos Saturday, April 11, at Laker Turf Stadium. Ending the game with a final score of 26-9, Coach Daly said that it’s a nice score, but it doesn’t represent the rest of the season or postseason unless they can keep up that momentum. 

Setting the tone early on for Senior Day, the Lakers took an early lead in the first quarter, making 6 goals in 4 minutes.  

Carrying that strength over into the second half of the game, the Lakers started the third quarter with a running clock after scoring 20 goals in the first half. 

After the first quarter, Coach Daly thought the Lakers didn’t implement the gameplay as well as they should have, but it ended up working in their favor anyway. The Lakers did a phenomenal job possessing the ball, winning face-offs and winning ground balls.

Although the Lakers didn’t devise much of a scheme beforehand, the game plan heading out on the field was to be the more competitive team when it came to ground balls and possession. They were able to successfully execute this by clinging to passing and catching.  

It wasn’t individual performance that made Saturday’s game a major success; it was collective dominance with impact from every position. The Lakers’ presence extends far beyond the field, to the work they put in on non-game days, and the team culture they have built beyond the turf. 

“It’s not just about lacrosse with them, it’s about the brotherhood they have on the team.”  

Over the last four years, the senior class has set the standards on how the team should be working every day, not just in games or practices. This year, the Lakers will be saying farewell to 9 players who have helped shape the team throughout the course of their careers.  

The seniors have established the tone by consistently building their game and applying coaching advice and feedback to refine their performance and address their weaknesses. During their four years with the program, the seniors have improved their game significantly, which is a tribute to who they are as people. 

Coach Daly said his favorite part about the seniors is how genuine they are as people. They have a strong desire to succeed on the field, and a drive to make an impact in the community. 

The seniors have already begun to lay the groundwork for the future of the program. A lot of underclassmen already occupy leadership positions and play a significant amount of minutes. 

The underclassmen have the skill, talent, and leadership from the seniors to continue what they have started. Although the seniors’ departure marks a significant loss, the team is in a prime spot for a seamless transition due to the cohesive culture the seniors have built and will leave behind. 

Senior Day was a prime example of the resilience and unity the senior players want to be remembered for and the foundation they have built over the years. The Lakers used Saturday’s game as an opportunity to garner game minutes and get better at their game, showcasing who they are as a program.