No. 4 Oswego State picked up another six-goal victory completing a weekend sweep to open the second half of SUNYAC play on Saturday night. The Lakers knocked off SUNY Fredonia, 7-1.
Throughout the first 10 minutes of play, the Lakers had the advantage in terms of chances. But, the Blue Devils strategy of packing in to support junior Jeff Flagler kept the hosts off the board. Oswego State scored twice before the midway point of the first in Friday night’s 6-0 victory over Buffalo State.
The Lakers had the lone power play of the opening frame early in the period with Blue Devils’ defenseman Ryan Wilkinson sent off for tripping. But, the visitors were able to disrupt both Laker power play units and stop them from holding the zone throughout man advantage period.
It took just four seconds past the 10-minute mark tonight for Oswego State to get on the board. At 10:04 of the period, sophomore Josh Timpano gained the zone and sent a wristshot off of Flagler’s mask. Timpano’s linemate, Chris Waterstreet picked up the rebound at the back pipe and buried his fourth goal of the season.
Over the next 8:41, the Lakers continued to create more Grade A chances, but some sloppy play in their own end created a few solid chances for the visitors as well. Nonetheless, Oswego State came away with the second, and final, goal of the period as well at 18:45. Sophomore Alex Botten fed Shawn Hulshof in the heart of the slot where he put a wristshot past Flagler. The finish was Hulshof’s third goal of the weekend after scoring twice against Buffalo State on Friday.
Despite its two-goal lead after the first period, Oswego State was outshot by SUNY Fredonia, 13-9, as well as losing the battle in the faceoff circle, 13-7.
Not long into the second frame, Timpano grabbed a goal of his own off an impressive redirect after junior Mac Scott sent the puck to the left pipe. The goal was Timpano’s first of the season and was the start of a momentum shift. Oswego State outshot SUNY Fredonia in the middle period, 15-5, and potted three.
The fourth goal came less than two minutes after Timpano’s as Chris Raguseo received the puck up top, carried it into the slot and beat Flagler with a backhand to the top shelf.
The Lakers kept up the pressure and thwarted several Blue Devil opportunities. The effort was rewarded when a hustle play by freshman Mitch Herlihey, with just over six minutes to play in the period, helped the hosts hold the zone, setting up their fifth goal. Raguseo took the puck and fed Hulshof for a back door goal. Hulshof finished the night with two goals, totaling four on the weekend.
Oswego State picked up two penalties in the final five minutes of the frame, including a hooking call on John Jackson that cut the team’s own power play during the time period short. However, no goals came during the penalties as the two sides headed to the second intermission with the Lakers ahead 5-0.
SUNY Fredonia head coach Jeff Meredith made a switch in net for the final 20 minutes, inserting sophomore Christopher Eiserman. The substitution worked out well for the Blue Devils for some time as they were able to slow down the Lakers. But, with six minutes to play, Oswego State broke through against Eiserman twice within a minute to balloon its lead to seven.
The first goal came on the power play as Hulshof was involved with another goal on a feed to the backdoor, except this time he earned the assist on a goal by sophomore Kenny Neil. The second tally was sent home by junior Brandon Adams as he streaked into the zone, received a pass from Waterstreet and beat Eiserman with a one-timer.
SUNY Fredonia ended Zawadzki’s chances for a second shutout in as many nights with a power play goal of its own at 16:41 of the third. The goal was rewarded to Marcus Ortiz because he was the last Blue Devil to touch the puck before it trickled passed Zawadzki and into the net. Zawadzki had gone 117 minutes between goals allowed dating back to a power play goal by Southern New Hampshire’s Jay Sylvia during the Penmen’s 4-3 victory over the Lakers on Jan. 11.
Despite giving up a late goal, Zawadzki earned his seventh win of the season while making 29 saves. As for the Blue Devils’ goalies, Flagler made 19 saves in 40 minutes of play and Eiserman made eight saves in 20 minutes of play.
Oswego State has a quick turnaround ahead as it travels to the Boston-area on Tuesday for a contest against Division II Stonehill College.
