OSWEGO, NY – The Oswego State Men’s hockey team had a high pressure SUNYAC semi-final on Saturday night against the Buffalo State Bengals. The Bengals were coming off a mid-week upset over Cortland, and had their starting goalie, Emil Norrman, back from injury. The two sides had just played a week prior, but without Norrman, an All-SUNYAC goalie, in net, the Lakers put seven goals in the back of the net.
The first action in the first period was a slashing call against the Lakers, giving the Bengals an early man-advantage. The Lakers killed it without allowing a shot on net. A few minutes after the end of the penalty, Tyler Flack scored his first goal of the season to give Oswego a 1-0 lead. Just seconds after the puck-drop from the last goal, Alex DiCarlo found netting behind Norrman again. The rest of the period was tame, without anymore goals or penalties. The Oswego defense was strong in the first, and Cal Schell only had four saves. Norrman had eight saves.
At the start of the second, the Lakers were started quickly. It took just 40 seconds for Oswego’s Connor Gatto to score the Lakers third goal. Throughout the rest of the period, both squads traded shots though nothing found netting. With five to go in the period the Bengals took a too-many men penalty, though the Lakers couldn’t capitalize. With just over a minute to go in the period, Drake Semrad was called for a 5-minute major for contact to the head, meaning he also missed the remainder of the game. With the Lakers up 3-0 at the end of the period, things looked bleak for the Bengals, but with just under four minutes remaining on the penalty there was still hope. Schell only had to make another four saves in the period, Norrman made 14.
To start the third, Lakers killed the major penalty, but also picked up another meaning they were 5-on-3 for about 30 seconds. The Lakers killed that one as well, while only giving up two shots throughout the entire ordeal. The Lakers spent a good portion of five minutes on a man-advantage, with the Bengals taking back-to-back penalties. Oswego got five shots off during the penalties, but couldn’t find netting. With less than four to go, Buffalo State broke the shutout, burying a slap shot. It was long before the Lakers recaptured that three-goal lead. Tommy Cahill buried one just a minute later. A late penalty against Jackson Arcan gave Buffalo State one last shot, but they didn’t take advantage and the game ended 4-1. Troy Robillard had two assists, in the game. Quinn Warmuth and Matt McQuade led the team with five shots each, while also each grabbing an assist. Cal Schell only had 15 saves in the game, Emil Norrman had 33.
Oswego moves onto the SUNYAC Championship game against rival Plattsburgh in the Deborah F. Stanley Arena. The two sides have already met three times this season, twice as regular season games, once as a non-conference game. The winner of the game gets an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Puck drop is set for 7:00, in what will be a big weekend for Laker athletics.
IMAGE PROVIDED BY ERIN BLANK, WTOP10 PHOTOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT
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