The Oswego State men’s hockey team headed on the road to face off against Plattsburgh State to return to SUNYAC play. The Cardinals defeated the Lakers 6-1 in a decisive win to bring the Plattsburgh State squad within one point of number one Oswego State in the SUNYAC standings. The Lakers would drop to 11-6-1 overall and 7-1-0 in SUNYAC play as the Cardinals upset the number six team in the nation.

The Plattsburgh State scoring spree started in the first period as Matt McQuade turned the puck over in the offensive zone and the Cardinals got a three on one rush. Riley Sutherland would drop the puck to Jacob Modry who opened the scoring.

Both players would connect again as Sutherland deflected a point shot from Modry just minutes later to push the score to 2-0. Oswego State head coach Ed Gosek commented on the play of the team right from the drop of the puck.

“We were not ready to compete,” Gosek said. “We did not compete…lack of mental focus and lack of intensity. We are not going to win many hockey games against anybody with it.”

The second period would remain scoreless, but Oswego State found their chances for the first time all game. Noah Bull ringed the puck off the crossbar but would not find the twine on the shot as the Lakers were kept off the scoreboard after 40 minutes of play.

41 seconds into the third period, Plattsburgh State would beat Cal Schell once again with a point-blank chance right in front of the netminder from Ryan Bonfield. Carson Gallagher and Luk Jirousek would add to the goal total as the Cardinals tallied three goals in the first seven minutes of the third period. Bennett Stockdale would also find the net in the third period to put the game away.

“You got to move your feet, or any team is going to look good,” Gosek said. “You give anybody time and space they are going to make plays and get it up to the [defenseman]. We did not pressure the [defenseman]. We did not close gaps. We did not hit and pin. We did not win one on one battles. It is going to be a long night against anybody.”

Cal Schell made 30 saves after giving up four goals. Schell was pulled in the third period due to an injury and Richie Parent took over the netminding duties for the Lakers. Parent made 8 saves in his first play in net since October when he helped Oswego State defeat Elmira College.

The Lakers would find the back of the net on the powerplay to eliminate Eli Schiller’s shutout as McQuade tipped Quinn Warmuth’s shot from the blue line. McQuade would tally his 10th point of the season in his freshman campaign with the Lakers.

Oswego State will need to refocus rather quickly as the Lakers stay on the road to finish their North Country swing with the SUNY Potsdam Bears who fell to SUNY Cortland 7-3. 

“I have a hard time finding any positives and basically flush it down and refocus and come back tomorrow and see how we rebound,” Gosek said. “To dwell on this, there really were not any positives that I can really think about. We have to learn from it.”

The Bears enter the contest with an overall record of 4-13-1 and recently tied the Lakers 3-3 on Jan. 6. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. from Maxcy Hall Arena on the campus of SUNY Potsdam.

Photo Provided By Jim Feeney