Oswego State Men Split Weekend Series

It was a weird weekend for the Oswego State Men's Hockey Team earning a split of their games this weekend with Cortland and Utica. It started Friday night with a dominating 6-0 over the Cortland Red Dragons in Cortland. The 1st period was a quite one, with neither team being able to find the back of the net. The 2nd period saw the Oswego offense explode for 5 goals in the frame. Paul Rodrigues got things going with a powerplay goal 2:17 into the period. Less than a minute later Ian Boots connected to up the lead to 2-0. The Lakers Powerplay clicked again for the 2nd goal of the period thanks to Luke Moodie stretching the lead to 3-0. Oswego just kept pouring it on, stretching the lead to 4-0 thanks to a Chris Brown powerplay goal, his first of the year and the 3rd on the man advantage in the period. Paul Rodrigues would add a 4th powerplay goal in the 2nd to make it a 5-0 Lakers lead after 40 minutes of play. To add the icing on the cake, Chris Brown connected in the 3rd for another powerplay goal to capp off the scoring at 6-0.

On this night Andrew Hare made 19 saves for the shutout, the 2nd in his Lakers career as Oswego improved to 3-0 on the young season. Oswego went 5 for 11 on the powerplay and cranked out 40 shots on a shell shocked Brittan Kuhlman. Six Oswego players had multi-point games: Chris Brown (2 Goals), Ian Boots (Goal, 2 Assists), Jon Whitelaw (3 Assists), Paul Rodrigues (2 Goals, 1 Assist), Zack Josepher ( 2 Assists), and Andrew Mather (2 Assists). All around good game for the Lakers on this night.

However the party would be short lived as the Lakers were upset by the Utica Pioneers in Utica on Saturday night. Before a big crowd of 3499 at the Aud in Utica, the Pioneers took the fight right to Oswego, converting on a powerplay goal half way through the opening period from Evan Chlanda. But with three minutes left in the 1st Oswego evened the score thanks to a slapper from Taylor Farris to tie it up. Mike Slowikowski and Trever Hertz got Utica a two goal lead at the end of the 2nd to grow the lead to 3-1. Tyler Leimbrock cut the lead in half at 3-2 but it wasnt enough as Utica was able to hold on for the victory.

Utica outshot Oswego 31-28 and controlled a good chunk of the play in this contest. Andrew Hare made 28 saves and played well but his offense wasn't able to give him enough support as Utica skated away with the victory.

After this weekend Oswego now stands at 3-1, heading into a home series this weekend at the Campus Center Ice Arena against Brockport and Geneseeo. Jon Whitelaw leads the team in overall scoring with 1 goal 7 assists for 8 points. Tyler Leimbrock is the teams leading goal scorer at 3. Whitelaw's 8 points are good enough to tie him for first overall in the nation in scoring with Branden Gay and Kevin O'Donnell of Wisconsin-Stout. Whitelaw's 7 assists are good enough for top marks in the entire country in helpers. As a team the offense has averaged 5.25 goals a game good for 6th in the country. They have the 8th best powerplay in the country and are tied for 9th in the nation on the penalty kill. Despite the Utica Loss Oswego has played great hockey over the first 4 games of the young season!