The Oswego State men's soccer team continued its impressive start to the 2017 campaign with a 6-1 victory over the University of Maine at Farmington on Saturday afternoon at the Southern Vermont College Tournament.
Oswego is now 3-0-1 on the year, its best start since the 1959 team opened 4-0-0 nearly 60 years ago.
Through four games of the season, the Lakers have tallied 20 goals, its most since that same 1959 squad scored 32 times in its four wins to open the year.
On Saturday, Caleb Asamoah had himself a day as the sophomore recorded a hat trick with Oswego's first, third and final goals. The forward started the contest with a tally at 6:47 off a pass from Hassan Musa. It was the first of four goals in the game's first 19 minutes as the Lakers grabbed an early, dominating 4-0 command.
Musa notched the next goal off a free kick at 11:35. Asamoah and Musa teamed up again less than two minutes later to put Oswego up 3-0. Graduate student Tim Ritch tucked in his first goal of the year to close the Lakers' first half scoring. Ryan Lindeman assisted Ritch on the goal as he took the preceding corner kick. The Beavers were able to score its only goal of the game in the final minute of the first half as Oswego headed to the break with a 4-1 advantage.
Connor Lunduski got into the action in the second half, assisting on both the Lakers' goals. First was Musa's second goal of the year and sixth of the season at 49:38 as he curled a ball over the keeper from the left side of the field. Just over 13 minutes later, Asamoah capped his six-point, three-goal performance with a tally off a Lunduski corner kick.
Evan Bogucki earned the start in net and made two saves in 76:48 of action en route to the triumph. Thomas Pupatelli played the final 13:12 between the pipes for Oswego but was not challenged by Maine-Farmington.
Oswego out-shot the Beavers 15-8, including an 8-3 margin in shots on-goal. The Lakers also drew three more corners than their opponent.
On Sunday, Oswego will play in the 2:30 p.m. championship game of the tournament against SUNY Canton. Canton defeated the host Mountaineers 4-1 in Saturday's first contest.
