UTICA, NY – The #7 ranked Oswego State Men’s hockey team has hit a rough patch in their season, losing their last three games. After losing to Skidmore two weekends ago in the Skidmore Thanksgiving Invitational, their Lakers returned to home ice Friday night to take on the Morrisville Mustangs on Teddy Bear Toss night.

Morrisville took the early lead in the game. In the fourth minute of game action, the Mustangs put one past net-minder Cal Schell for the first goal of the game. It look less than ten seconds for Morrisville to double their lead, and the Lakers found themselves with an uphill climb to get back and win the game. Despite being down, the Lakers led the period in shots, 9-7, three of them coming by way of Tommy Cahill. Schell ended the period with five saves. The Lakers dominated the face-off circle winning 13 of 15 opportunities.

The Lakers started their fight back in the second period. It started slow, a penalty by Ryan Dickinson at the five minute mark put the Mustangs on the man advantage, but the Lakers killed it, allowing no shots. Just past the half way mark Trent Grimshaw scored, sending the teddy bears flying onto the ice. All the stuffed animals collected were donated to Toys for Tots. The goal was assisted by Ryan Dickinson and Tommy Cahill. Neither team would score the rest of the period. Oswego again led in shots, 8-6, and was led by Cahill and Colabufo with two each. Schell had another six saves.

The third period saw Morrisville have two penalties, first a tripping call seven minutes in, and then their second too many players on the ice call of the game in the seventeenth minute. The Lakers couldn’t capitalize on either penalty only getting one shot off in the first and none in the second. They finished 0-3 on the Powerplay in the game. Oswego pulled goalie Cal Schell in the final minutes of the game, and the Mustangs used that to their advantage, scoring the empty netter with just 1:30 remaining the contest. Morrisville handed the Lakers their first conference loss of the season, and their second loss in a row. Cahill and Colabufo led the team in shots with five each. The Lakers were dominate all game in the face-off circle going an outstanding 25 for 30. Schell had another 11 saves in the final frame, finishing the game with 22.

Oswego took to the road on Saturday night to take on the Utica Pioneers for a matchup of two top 10 teams. The Pioneers came into the ga e ranked #3 in the country and looked to hold their status and one of the best programs in division three. It also happened to be teddy bear toss night in Utica. The Lakers held the game scoreless for a good portion of the first period, but the Pioneers finally got one by Schell. The Pioneers commanded the first period, winning the shot battle 17-5. Schell, back in net, had 16 saves.

The Pioneers took over the in the second frame. Nine minutes in the they scored their second of the game. Two minutes later they scored their third. They scored their fourth with less than two remaining in the period. The Lakers took a couple penalties in the period, but were able to kill them, despite going down 4-0. Lakers were again outshot, 15-8, in the period. Schell had another 12 saves.

The Lakers played their most competitive in the third. They were still out-shot 13-10, but that was the closest it was all game. Neither side scored in the period, but it was a very physical one. The squads had dueling penalties just before the fifteen minute mark, but for the Lakers it resulted in a five minute major and game misconduct for Matt McQuade. The sides again had competing penalties with 3:30 to go. Despite everything that happened in the period, Schell finished off an overall good night with another 13 saves, finishing the game with 41 saves. Alex DiCarlo and Connor Sleeth led the Lakers in shots with three each.

With the losing streak, the Lakers fall to 7-4 on the season and 5-1 in the SUNYAC. They have one more weekend of games before they get a couple weeks off. Next weekend they take to the road for a game against the Buffalo State Bengals on Friday and stay on the road for a game against Fredonia on Saturday. Puck drop is set for 7:00 P.M. for both games. The are currently #7 in the USCHO poll, but expect to fall with the losses.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY MICHELLE QUIACHON, WTOP10 PHOTOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT.