To avoid a full three weeks between their first and second games of the young season, the
Oswego River Hawks NABLL team traveled to Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania for two non-league,
unofficial games versus the Charm City Cannons and the host Philadelphia Mustangs this past
Saturday.
In the first contest vs. Charm City, ten different Oswego players recorded goals, led by Oswego
HS and Oswego State alum Nate Schultzkie, Skariwate Papineau, and Trevor Jones, who each
scored three goals. Other goal scorers included Mitch White (2), Dylan Smith (2), Owen
Spearing, Mike Rattinger, Dan Fuller, A.J. Wright, and Brian Kelly.
The River Hawks jumped out to a 7-2 first quarter lead and never looked back, holding a 12-3
advantage at halftime. River Hawks goalie Tom Fernaays played the first half, recording seven
saves while allowing three goals. Kobie Gibson played the second half, making just one save
and allowing just one goal. Oswego tallied six second half goals and cruised to an 18-4
unofficial win.
In the second game, scoring proved to be much more difficult. The host Mustangs led 2-1 after
the first quarter; Oswego’s lone goal came from Dylan Smith, the first of his four in the second
game. Smith tallied two more goals in the second quarter, along with a tally from Mason
Blakeman, but the River Hawks let up three goals as well, and the Mustangs held on to a 5-4
lead at the half.
Each team scored twice in the third quarter, as Smith and Blakeman scored again. In the fourth
quarter, Oswego’s Bryan Kelly and Mike Mahalick tallied goals, but the Mustangs also scored
twice. In the stifling heat, the River Hawks lost a hard-fought 9-8 decision. Gibson played three
quarters and made 19 saves, allowing just four goals. Fernaays played one quarter, made three
saves, and allowed four goals.
The River Hawks return to Oswego to host the Seneca Lake Serpents on Friday, June 28 at
Fort Ontario’s Crisafulli Arena; face-off is set for 7:30 PM. Admission is free for those under age
18.
