Oswego was coming off a close win on home ice against Fredonia earlier this week just to move on to the semifianls against Plattsburgh. It was win or go home for the team. Oswego had to win to move on to the SUNYAC title game, all the while trying to end the Cardinals streak of 22 straight years playing in the SUNYAC title game. Much like the two previous meetings between the teams, this one was a tight checking, low scoring, hard hitting hockey game. Oswego, just like it did last weekend, came away with a big 2-1 win, ending the Cardinals streak of 22 straight SUNYAC title game appearances.
The first period saw nobody score and each team go 0 for 1 on their powerplays. Plattsburgh outshot the Lakers 9-7 in the opening period. To the middle period we go and Plattsburgh managed to get on the board 2:49 into the period on the powerplay as Alex Jensen scored his 13th of the year. The Cardinals carried that 1-0 lead into the break, outshooting the Lakers 12-10 in the middle frame. Oswego kept putting pressure on the Cardinals during the 3rd period before finally breaking through. At the 6:24 mark Oswego pulled even, thanks to Mike Montagna's 11th of the season. As the game wore on fans started to wonder who was going to be the hero in this game. We got that question answered a little over four minutes later, when at the 10:15 mark Josh Timpano, the freshman, scored his first career goal, which proved out to be the game winner, sending the Lakers to the SUNYAC title game. Timpano's first career goal could not have come at a bigger time.
Mathieu Cadieux took the loss for Plattsburgh, dropping his record to 18-5-2 on the year, as he stopped 23 of the 25 shots he faced. Meanwhile Matt Zawadzki picked up the win for the Lakers, improving his record to 12-2-2 on the year, as he stopped 31 of the 32 shots he faced. Plattsburgh managed to go 1 for 3 on the man advantage, while Oswego went 1 for 5 on the powerplay.
In this game for Oswego, it was the freshman really stealing the show. The offensive hero was Timpano for scoring his first career goal at a HUGE time for the Lakers. That could not have been a sweeter way to get your first goal. The defensive hero was freshman goalie Matt Zawadzki, who stood on his head during the 3rd period. He had kept Oswego in it most of the hockey game, saving his most brilliant work for helping preserve the lead the latter half of the 3rd period and send Oswego on to the next round.
Next up for the Lakers is the SUNYAC Cha,pionship game as Oswego heads to Geneseo to take on the Ice Knights for the Conference Championship. That's going to be a huge test for Oswego, as they have dropped both games they played this year against the Ice Knights including the 7-4 loss in Geneseo on November 22nd. The puck drop for the title game is set for 7PM!
(Photo provided by Oswego State Athletics)
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