Introducing "Jock Journal": Samantha Shelton

Jock Journal is a fist-hand account from an Oswego State student-athlete. First up, Samantha Shelton from the undefeated women's soccer team. Shelton is a first-year goalkeeper and the junior sports editor for The Oswegonian student newspaper. She is number double zero in your program. Her words below:

So we had our first two games this weekend at the Cortland Classic and we came out on top for both of them...Just from that, I'd sum it up to a pretty amazing weekend.

The bus ride on the way up was really relaxing. It's only an hour and a half ride, so we shared some laughs at the movie Knocked Up and then listened to some tunes to get pumped up. We all basically kept to ourselves on the ride up and mentally prepared for the game.

Then it was game time. Music was played in the locker room the whole time and various girls busted out some dance moves. Nothing like some hip hop and rap to get you going for a game.

The game went really well and we did a great job of showing people what our team is all about this year. No more losing records for us! We played a defensive game for the first 10 minutes so we could get rid of those opening-game jitters and settle into our pace and strategy. After that, we maintained control. Possession was the name of our game and our connecting passes were on the entire time. Rutgers-Camden was the first to find the back of the net though. It was a shmuck goal, one made off a slight error that can only be described as unlucky for us. Toby, our starting goalkeeper, made a great diving save, but due to the wet grass, wasn't able to hang onto it after the rebound off her body. Kate Campbell was there for the opposing team and knocked it in off the rebound.

We were able to tie it up four minutes later though, so no worries there. Brooke Sherman flighted a ball into the eighteen and Rachel Maul headed it toward the goal. Their goalkeeper made the save but fell backward into the goal, clearing the goal line. Testament to the strength of Rachel's head, I guess.

We basically shoved the ball down their throats in the second half. We had complete control of the game and the pace at which we played it. Tricia Sullivan scored the game-winning goal, with a beautiful ball from Alyssa Dean. Alyssa was up against two defenders, picked up her head and made a light pass to Tricia a few yards away on the wing. Tricia drilled it to the far post, hit the post and watched the ball skim across the goal, right behind the line. Some call it luck, I would just say skill.

Cortland was great and allowed us to stay on campus for a few hours and take over their gazebo for a cook out with family and friends who came to watch the game. Shout out to a few of the guys on the lacrosse team who came to support us! They got some good food out of it. Then it was time to head back to the hotel, where we all just vegged out, played games, acted goofy in the pool and most of all, slept. We all found out where our comfort zones lie too with two to a bed, four to a room. Some people really like cuddling, is all I'll say. =)


Sunday was a little nerve-wracking because we played horribly the first half against Alvernia. Connecting passes were not being made and we were moving at a slow pace. A testament to us should be made though, because although we weren't playing at our best level, we were still running the game. We made plenty of shots on goal, we just weren't finishing them. We were too spaced out and not playing a smart game, yet it was still clear that we were the better team.

The first half ended with Alvernia leading, 1-0. They had scored off of a corner kick that Kelly Reilly was able to knock in at the far post. We came out in the second half with a vengeance, playing much better ball and driving to the net more. Shots kept being made, but goals weren't being converted though. Finally, in the last 20 minutes, insurance came. Kheetah "Cheetah" Koutouan tied the game with a lofting shot over the goalkeeper's head. Three more goals came in quick succession later, from Leah Paige, Alyssa Dean and Ana Jurcack. It was safe to say that we had secured the game after that.

Overall, it was a great opening weekend. We played hard, showed our stuff and won both games. And as coach said, nobody got into trouble off the field...which is always a good sign.

Next up, first home game on Thursday against Saint Lawrence at 4 p.m. Come watch!

Samantha Shelton, #00
Goalkeeper
Women's Soccer