The 2010-2011 season proved to be another very successful one for the Oswego State Lakers. Even thought it didn't end with a National Championship, still getting back to the Final 4 was a very big accomplishment. The year started with the addition of new players added to the lineup to replace some of the talent lost from last season. And the team didn't disappoint.
The year started off with, in reality it wasn't very much of a contest, a 17-0 whooping of the GMHL All-Stars in an exhibition at the Campus Center. The regular season officially kicked off with a 4-1 win over Elmira at home on October 22nd. The next night both teams met again, this time from the Murray Athletic Center in Elmira. The result was the same as the night before, with Oswego picking up the 4-2 victory. Halloween weekend was the kickoff of a 5-Game homestand for the club, with the team going 5-0 during that time. IT all started October 29th with a 5-2 win over Buffalo State. October 30th produced a 3-0 victory over Fredonia. Paul Beckiwth got the win making 17 saves for his 1st career shutout. Oswego went a perfect 4-0 in the month of October.
November rolled around and the first weekend proved to be the biggest home weekend of the year as Potsdam and Plattsburgh made their annual trip to the shores of Lake Ontario. Potsdam was 1st up on November 5th in a 7-1 beatdown by the Lakers. Paul Beckwith made 33 saves, Justin Fox scored a pair and Luke Moodie connected for a natural hat trick. The big game however was the next night as on November 6th Oswego and Plattsburgh added another chapter to the storied rivalry. For the 4th consecutive game, Oswego took down their archrivals by a 5-3 score. Luke Moodie and Andrew Mather gave the Lakers the early lead but Plattsburgh came back to tie the game at the end of the 1st. The middle frame was quiet and the offenses erupted in the 3rd. Tyler Leimbrock gave the Lakers the 1 goal lead before Dylan Clarke tied it a few moments later. Then late in the 3rd Ian Boots connected for his 4th of the year to give Oswego the lead, and in doing so became an instant fan favorite. Owen Kelly capped the game off with an empty netter.
After taking down the Cards Oswego's next challange was Cortland in the last game of the homestand. Oswego showed no after effects beating the Red Dragons 6-1. The next night Oswego took their show on the road. November 13th the date. The opponent was the Utica Pioneers at Utica. As has usually been the case Utica gave Oswego a fight but the Lakers came away with the 3-1 victory on the start of a 4-game road trip. Oswego had one more game before the thanksgiving break and it turned into another victory on November 20th with a 4-2 victory at Morrisville. Then December rolled around and came a semi-west road trip to Brockport and Geneseo. Another weekend another pair of wins for Oswego, a 4-2 win on December 3rd over Broackport and a 4-0 victory over Geneseo on December 4th. The 4-0 shutout against Geneseo was the 2nd of the season, and 2nd of the career for Paul Beckwith. However that win in Geneseo came at a price as Paul Beckwith would be lost for the next 3 weeks with a collar bone injury.
So the goaltending duties were handed over to Dan Jones for the next little while. His first career start came on December 10th at home against Utica. This night was in the Lakers favor as they pulled out a narrow 2-1 victory giving Dan Jones his 1st career win. With the win oswego extended it's overall record to 12-0. That streak would be snapped the next night as in Hobart on December 11th Oswego suffered its first defeat of the season a 5-2 loss to the Hobart Statesman. So Oswego ended the 1st half of the season at 12-1-0.
During winter break Oswego's struggles seemed to continue a bit as in the start of the Pathfinder Bank Oswego Hockey Classic the Lakers were defeated by Hamilton College 5-1 on Home Ice. That loss was the 1st loss on Home Ice since February 20th 2007 in a 4-2 loss to Potsdam. On New Years Eve Oswego got back on track with a 6-1 win over Wisconsin-Stevens Point. After this win Oswego would rattle of 2 straight shutouts. First came on January 4th with a 2-0 shutout over Skidmore College, which was the 1st career shutout for Dan Jones, then on January 8th a 3-0 shutout of Curry College. The win over Curry was the first win as a Laker and the 1st career shutout for Andrew Hare.
Oswego kicked off the 2nd half of the season, and a return to conference play with a 5 game road trip. IT started on January 22nd with a win at Buffalo State by a 4-1 score. The following night at Geneseo, Oswego needed to find an overtime hero. The Lakers had a 4-1 lead going into the 3rd period, but were unable to hold the lead as the Ice Knights came back to tie the game and force overtime. That is when Paul Rodrigues made his mark as he ripped home a one-timer a minute into OT to win the game for the Lakers.
Oswego kept it's winning ways going the last weekend in January, this time in Northern New York. It started on January 28th with a 8-1 win over Potsdam. January 29th was the anticipated rematch with the rival Plattsburgh Cardnials. Plattsburgh outplayed Oswego for most of the hockey game but the Lakers were able to skate away with the 4-3 victory. For the 2nd time in 2 years Oswego was outplayed by the Cardnials in PLattsburgh but were able to come away with a victory. Oswego ended the 5-game road trip with another OT thriller this time a comback victory at Cortland on February 4th. Oswego took a quick 1-0 lead on a early goal from Jon Whitelaw but by the end of the 1st Cortland had a 2-1 lead. They would stretch the lead to 3-1 early in the 3rd but late goals by Luke Moodie and Dan Bremner tied the game and sent it to Overtime. With 1 minute left in OT Paul Rodrigeus struck again roofing a wrist shot on a breakaway to win the game 4-3. It was the 2nd OT winner for Rodriges on the year.
The Lakers returned home from the 5 game trip on February 12th only to run into a road block. The visiting Morrisville Mustangs pulled off the surprising upset by a 5-2 score. Oswego responded in a very big way on Senior Weekend. February 18th Oswego pounded Brockport 7-1, capped of by 2 goals and an assist from Ian Boots. The next night was senior night and boy did the seniors go out with a bang. Geneseo was the opponent and they where whooped by a score of 7-1. Chris Laganiere had a hat trick and Ian Boots had 5 assists. Oswego had seemed to hit their stride.
SUNYAC Playoffs rolled around and Oswego's 1st opponent was the Fredonia Blue Devils. The night didn't go the way Oswego wanted as the Blue Devils came in and pulled of the shocking 2-1 overtime victory. Oswego was the #1 seed in the SUNYAC tournement and got shocked on home ice. However Oswego's record was good enough to get them back into the NCAA Tournment for the 2nd straight year. Oswego had not been in back-to-back NCAA tournments since 1987-1988-1989.
The first round for Oswego was a rematch of last years first round against the Bowdin Polar Bears. This year was the same result as last, an Oswego Victory. This year it was a 7-5 victory for the Lakers propelling them to a 2nd straight Final 4 apperance, something that Oswego has never done before. And of course we all know what happened with that one. There was a major milestone reached during the season, as Senior Chris Laganiere joined the Oswego State 100 point club, finishing his career with 101 points.
Now I think I can speak for most Oswego State Hockey fans when I say this. To the seniors on this years team: Kevin Huinink, Chris Laganiere, Stephen Mallaro, Justin Fox, Joe Hall, Owen Kelly, and Dan Bremner. Guys it has been a real honor and pleasure watching you play over the last 4 years. You have made a major impact on this program, this team, this college, this community, and everybody who has ever had the previladge to watch you play. Gentleman thank you so very much for the memories.
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