Hunting for a playoff spot moving into the final regular season game of the year, the Oswego State Lakers were ready to go to battle to make it to their fourth consecutive SUNYAC playoffs. 

They set off on their trip to SUNY Potsdam this past Saturday, April 25, for a start at 1 p.m. Tensions were high on both sides of the field, and this game had to be won by a certain number of points or the Lakers would be heading home without a playoff bid. 

Austin Sroda won the opening faceoff, but the Lakers quickly turned the ball over and the Bears got into their offensive possession, taking advantage to strike first with a goal from Billy Kozloski. The Lakers quickly responded, though, with Logan Postel striking for Oswego to tie the game at 1-1 with just under 10 minutes left in the first quarter. 

Going into the final 10 minutes of the first quarter, Potsdam’s offense took over. Kozloski scored another goal, and Ronin Oakes added on two to put them up 4-1 in the first. 

Braydon Goddard started the Bears off hot in the second quarter, scoring first before Oakes found the back of the net yet again, giving him a hat trick and putting the Bears on a 5-goal streak. 

The Lakers were not going down without a battle, as Hayden Coney scored on a man-up opportunity before Postel got his second goal of the game to put the score to 6-3. Rowisonkies Barnes then put the Bears’ up four, taking all the momentum away from the Lakers with 48 seconds left in the half. 

The score was left at 7-3 heading into the break, and Oswego looked to improve on both the offensive and defensive side of the field over the next portion of play.

Although Barnes got the momentum after, neither team could get going in the second half. Morgan Fox scored the first goal with 38 seconds left, and then Barnes notched another just 20 seconds later. The final quarter of the game was domination from the Bears as they tacked on another three goals. Drew Costello accounted for a pair, while Goddard sealed the deal with one of his own.

The seven-goal loss for Oswego knocked them out of the playoffs for the first time in four years.

Potsdam’s season came to a close in the first round,while SUNY Plattsburgh was dominated by SUNY Cortland, 36-3, on Wednesday, April 29.