Oswego Downs Buffalo State, WIll Host SUNYAC Championship

After struggling last weekend against the Plattsburgh State Cardinals, the Oswego State Men's Hockey team looked to rebound at home against the Buffalo State Bengals in the 2nd round of the SUNYAC Tournament. Oswego has yet to lose to Buffalo State in the history of the program. That trend would continue as Oswego State was able to advance in the tournament, beating the Bengals 5-2 in pretty convincing fashion.

Buffalo State would actually jump out on top thanks to a goal from Mike Zannella, his 16th of the year, at the 10:05 mark of the opening period. Oswego would respond in kind with a pair of goals before the end of the period. First it was Luke Moodie with his 20th of the year at the 15:28 mark to tie the game. Less than a minute later, at the 16:21 mark, David Titanic scored his 10th of the season to give Oswego a 2-1 lead they would carry into the locker rooms at the end of the period.

The middle period of this contest proved to be a chippy one as a total of seven penalties were called, three on Oswego and four on Buffalo State. Oswego would take advantage of the chippy play and come away with a pair of goals both coming of the stick of Chris Muise. Muise's first goal, and his 8th of the season, came unassisted at the 16:32 mark, while his 2nd of the night, and 9th of the year, came on a powerplay at the 18:42 mark. Oswego now carried a 4-1 lead heading into the 2nd intermission.

It took Buffalo State only 1:18 into the final period to cut the Oswego lead to 4-2. That's when Todd Graham scored his 2nd of the year, and it turned the heat up just a bit on the Lakers. Oswego and goalie Andrew Hare would hold the fort down. Oswego would seal the game at the 18:42 mark when David Titanic scored his 2nd of the game, and 11th of the year into an empty net and cap off the 5-2 Oswego victory.

Oswego outshot Buffalo State 41-35 for the game in picking up the victory. Kevin Carr, who has played almost every minute of every game for Buffalo State, took the loss, dropping his record to 13-12-2 on the year, made 36 saves in the loss. Andrew hare picked up the win for the Lakers, improving his record to 18-4-0, made 33 saves in the victory.

With the win, Oswego will get set to face arch rival Plattsburgh in the 2nd whiteout game of the season, this time with a SUNYAC Conference title and automatic bid into the NCAA Division III National Tournament on the line in Oswego this Saturday night!

A full preview of the game will be posted right here Friday afternoon to get everybody ready for that contest!

(Photo provided by the Oswego State Sports Information Department)