OSWEGO — Men’s Hockey played their first game of the regular season last night at the Marano Campus Center against SUNY Cortland. The Lakers were victorious with a 6-3 win that was a source from the four unanswered goals that occurred in the second period. This Oswego surge was led by junior Max Novick as he notched two goals and an assist along with captain Josh Zizek getting two assists. #6 Oswego would hold off SUNY Cortland in the third period to start the season 1-0 in conference play. David Richer finished the night with a .888 save percentage after giving up three goals over the course of the game. Moving forward, Oswego will host SUNYAC rival Plattsburgh in the annual Whiteout game next weekend. Puck drop will be at 7 p.m. at the Marano Campus Center.
Photo Provided by Alexis Fragapane
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Lakers Fly Past Cardinals in SUNYAC Tournament Berth
For the 19th straight season, the Oswego State Lakers have clinched the SUNYAC Tournament and what a better way to do it than on Valentine’s day. The Lakers defeated the Cardinals on Friday night during their six point victory thanks to a combined, 43 point effort from seniors Brandon Gartland and Joe Sullivan.
Plattsburgh kept it close throughout the first half while using their best rendition of ‘Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better’. Each time the Lakers grabbed a bucket on one end, the Cardinals always had an answer. Oswego held the lead by four points or less through the first ten minutes of the contest but three minutes later, with an already shallow selection on the bench, Plattsburgh Head Coach Mike Blaine had some decision making to do following the injury of Forward Jeremy Eisenmen. Eisenmen went down hard after crashing the boards and was clutching his left knee. He was able to put pressure on it but would not return to the game.
In his absence, Matt Bernhard, a 5’10” stud off the bench, executed a perfect first half of shooting off the bench. Aside from his one missed free throw, he shot 3-3 from distance and 4-4 from the field ending with 12 of the Cardinals 34 points at halftime.
Brandon Gartland shot five for eight from behind the arc in the first half, good enough to lead the book with 15 points at the break. Joe Sullivan was a vital part of the first half for the Lakers tallying nine free throw attempts and sinking five of them. Sullivan struggled to find his rhythm early on but that would change going into the second half.
General Joe flipped the switch coming out of the locker room scoring 12 of his 21 in the second frame. Sullivan shot 5-13 in the second half and ended with 8 rebounds and 8 assists to add onto his impressive scoring performance. Coach Leone was happy with his big man’s performance.
“Joe plays hard every night,” Leone said. “He’s a senior and he is doing what we would hope seniors do at this point in their senior season. I’m really pleased with the things he did tonight. He deserves it.”
However, Gartland went in the opposite direction having a rather quiet second half. He scored just seven points adding his total to 22 without a single three pointer in after the break. “They were sticking a little tighter to me,” Gartland expressed. “Other people were making plays and we were still scoring.” For what he lacked on the offensive end, he made up for on the defensive end with four steals and a couple big time stops down the stretch.
Plattsburgh got into some foul trouble five minutes into the second half when Erik Salo was charged with his fourth personal. Now with Eisenmen injured and Salo playing restricted and cautious minutes, the only other options off the bench were Marlon Todd and freshman Lamont Hough Jr. who never saw the floor.
With six to go, the Lakers turned on the after-burners going on an 8-2 run in a minute and 28 seconds taking a 69-61 lead with 4:05 remaining. The Cardinals never came back from this lead, falling short to the Lakers 75-69. It came down to protecting the ball tonight and Plattsburgh was not proficient in that category. Averaging 15 turnovers a game, Coach Blaine’s Cardinals exceeded that margin with 16 and 11 of those turnovers came in the second half.
Coach Jason Leone was excited about clinching the SUNYAC tournament for the ninth time in his nine years as the head coach of Oswego State but recognized that there was still work to do following Friday night. “We’re in the playoffs,” Leone expressed. “So now we are in a battle to try and get a home game. Every game has a significant meaning from here on out.” With Potsdam traveling to Laker hall at 4:00 pm for the second game of the back to back, the Lakers have a win under their belt and look to continue their winning ways after Improving to 16-5 on the year.
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Men’s hockey losses tough conference matchup
OSWEGO, N.Y. – The Oswego State men’s hockey team took to home ice for their lone game of the weekend on Friday for a SUNYAC matchup with the Cortland Red Dragons. It was the second meeting between the two this season, the Lakers won the last matchup 5-4. Cortland found the scoreboard first. After a tripping call against Oswego’s Ryan Dickinson, the Red Dragons capitalized on the power play. The game remained 1-0 for a good chunk of the first period, both teams putting chances on net, but the goal tenders playing well. Oswego was next to score, tying the game. Connor Gatto was one-on-one with the goalie and made an excellent move to deke around him and have a wide open net behind for the game-tier. The Lakers then took the lead, Tommy Cahill firing one past the goalie for the 2-1 lead, but Cortland wouldn’t let it stand for long. The Red Dragons would tie it again before the end of the first, with less than a minute to go. When the first period finally ended it was 2-2. Cal Schell made seven saves, the Cortland’s goalie, Luca Durante‘s six.
The Second period was more tame than the first. Only one goal found netting, this one in favor of the Red Dragons. Cortland’s second power play goal of the game, on their final power play opportunity. The goal was scored just after the half way mark in the period. Oswego wasted three different power play opportunities of their own, at one point being on a 5-3 for just under a minute. Oswego did have 14 shots on goal in the period, all of them saved by Durante. Schell had another seven saves of his own, to go with the one allowed goal.
The Lakers would re-tie the game early in the third. Alex DiCarlo snuck one by Durante. The Lakers had another two power-play chances in the period that they couldn’t capitalize on, they were an abysmal 0-6 in the game on the powerplay. Despite plenty more chances for each side, neither team would score again, and the game would go to OT. Durante had 17 more saves in the period, Schell amounting another 8.
Overtime didn’t last long, just a minute in Cortland scored a wrap-around goal to win it 4-3. Luca Durante amassed 39 saves in the contest, Schell had 24. Oswego out shot Cortland 42-28, Tommy Cahill leading Oswego in shots with 8. Shane Bull assisted on two goals in the contest.
Oswego is now 8-0-3-1 in the SUNYAC, putting them in second place with 17 points behind Plattsburgh, while also playing one extra game. Their next game is next Friday against the Geneseo Ice Knights in Oswego, the game is themed “Into the Knight”. Puck drop is set for 7:00 P.M. Coverage will start on https://www.youtube.com/@WTOP10TV at 6:30 with Hockey Night in Oswego.
IMAGE PROVIDED BY OSWEGO ATHLETICS
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Lakers snaps 12-game losing streak vs. Cortland with Tie
OSWEGO — The Men’s Soccer team ties nationally ranked Cortland after a highly competitive match up at Laker Stadium yesterday. After double OT, the teams finished the contest 1-1 with both groups starting off their SUNYAC conference play 2-0-1. After a scoreless first half, Steven Rojas, Freshman, scores off a shot from Caleb Asamoah. The Red Dragons would equalize later in the half, the first goal that got past keeper Brian Terra since Ithaca on Sept. 17. The group looks to keep their successful SUNYAC streak going with another home game against Oneonta this Friday. Kickoff is at 4 p.m.
