The season started off on November 1st with a tough 3-2 overtime loss to the Fredonia Blue Devils, a game in which saw new Lakers Shawn Hulshof and Brandon Adams score their first career goals. Oswego would bounce back nicely the next night, picking up their first win of the season, a 3-2 victory over the Buffalo State Bengals. Dylan Smith, Alex Botten and Matt Galati each picked up their first career goals, while freshman Kenny Neil added his first two collegiate points (both assists) and Freshman Matt Zawadzki picked up his first career win. Oswego kept on a roll, winning their next two games. First was a 4-1 win over Cortland on November 9th, a game which saw Mac Scott score his first goal in a Lakers jersey. They followed that up with a big 7-3 win over Elmira at home on November 16th, a game which saw Kenny Neil chip in a three point night, including his first career goal, a pair of goals from Matt Galati, and the first career points for Evan Schultz (2 helpers) and first Lakers points for Morgan Bonner (2 assists). Oswego would close out the month of November with a road split in Western New York. They fell to Geneseo 7-4, a game which Chris Waterstreet scored his 1st career goal and Mike Montagna chiped in a 3 point game (goal and two helpers). Oswego bounced back with a big 4-0 shutout win over Brockport. Matt Zawadzki picked up his 1st career shutout, while Dylan Smith, Matt Galati (twice) and Chris Raguseo (1st career goal) provided all the offense. The Lakers were able to go 5-2 in the opening month of the season. Returning from the quick break, Oswego kick off the month of December with Whiteout weekend, playing host to Potsdam and Plattsburgh. The Lakers rolled over the Bears to the tune of a 7-1 win, thanks to a four assist night from Mike Montagna. After that blowout, Oswego skated to a hard fought 3-3 tie with rival Plattsburgh to close out the 2013 portion of the schedule.
Oswego returned to the ice in 2014 to host the Pathfinder Bank Oswego Hockey Classic, their annual New Years Tournament. 2014 picked up where 2013 left off, with a 3-0 win over Curry. In the championship game of the Tournament, Oswego skated to a 2-2 tie in regulation against Utica, but won the game in a shootout to claim the title. The team followed up the Tournament win with a 5-0 shutout of Connecticut College at home with Justin Gilbert picking up the shutout victory. Next up for the Lakers was a pair of road victories, both by the same 5-3 score, over Nazareth and Utica. Next was a pair of home wins for Oswego, first a 9-3 win over Salve Regina and a 3-0 win over Nazareth, with Matt Zawadzki picking up his 2nd shutout of the season. With the Win, Oswego had now gone on a ten game unbeaten streak, going 8-0-2 in that time.
The unbeaten streak came to an end at the hands of the Elmira Soaring Eagles, on the road, with a 3-2 loss. Oswego would bounce back the next week with a 5-1 win at Fredonia. Very next night, Oswego falls for the first time ever the the Buffalo State Bengals, in Buffalo, as they fell 4-0. Oswego had struggled but was able to bounce back from the Buffalo State loss with a three game win streak. First up was a 4-2 win at home against Cortland, then a pair of road wins at Morrisville, with 9-2 and a comeback 5-3 win. Oswego headed into senior weekend on a roll but stumbled badly in the final home games of the regular season. They dropped both games on the weekend, first a 3-2 loss to Geneseo followed by another 3-2 loss to Brockport. That was the last time Oswego would fall during the regular season.
The Lakers closed out the season with their North Country trip. First up was a busting of the losing streak, on the strength of a 4-3 win at Potsdam. Oswego closed out the regular season with a thrilling 4-3 at Stafford against rival Plattsburgh. The green and gold went rolling into the opening round of the SUNYAC tournament, winning each game in the tournament by just one goal. First it was a 3-2 win at home over Fredonia, thanks to Matt Galati's powerplay goal early in the 3rd period. Oswego had to make another trip to Plattsburgh for the 2nd time in as many weekends. The result was exactly the same. Oswego skated away with a nail biting 2-1 victory, thanks to Josh Timpano's first career goal half way through the 3rd period. To claim the SUNYAC Crown once again, Oswego had to go through the Ice Knights of Geneseo. The Lakers defended their conference crown in a wild 7-6 game that was capped off by Shawn Hulshof's 8th of the year with 28 seconds left in regulation.
With the conference title in their back pocket, Oswego headed into the NCAA Tournament on a hot streak, keeping it going with an opening round, come from behind, 4-3 win over Bowdin at home. Oswego overcame a two goal deficit late in the hockey game, with three unanswered goals, the winner coming off the stick of Alex Botten with a little over 2 minutes left in regulation. Next up Oswego faced Babson, with a chance to go to the final four for the fifth year in a row. Shawn Hulshof, Matt Galati and Brandon Adams provided the offense, while Matt Zawadzki stopped all 27 shots he faced, as Oswego headed to their 5th straight final four.
Oswego headed into the final four riding a seven game winning streak as they went into their matchup against Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Shawn Hulshof scored the lone Oswego, but it wasn't enough as the Lakers fell 2-1 in the Semifinal game for the 3rd time in five years.
Still with all things considered, Oswego impressed a lot of people with what they were able to accomplish this season. The Lakers found a way to climb to the final four for the fifth year in a row, finishing the season with a 22-7-2 record. The 22 wins was the lowest win total for the Lakers since 2008-09 when they won 18 games. This year, it wasn't the upperclassmen really powering the offense. In fact it was the freshman leading the charge. Matt Galati lead the team in goals with 24 and points with 36, the highest point and goal totals by a freshman since Jon Whitelaw had 38 points as a freshman. The 24 goals by Galati was the most by a freshman since 21 goals by Ryan Ellis in 2005-06. Leading the team in assists this year was freshman Alex Botten who had 24 helpers. Matt Zawadzki and Justin Gilbert did a great job splitting time between the pipes this season. Zawadzki finished the year with a 15- 3- 2 record, a .922 SV % and a 2.16 GAA to go along with 4 shutouts on the year. The 15 wins are the most by a freshman goalie since Ryan Scott had 11, while the 4 shutouts beat Scott's 3 shutouts as a freshman, both of which Scott posted in 2004-05. As for Justin Gilbert, he went 7- 4- 0, with a .901 SV %, a 2.50 GAA to go along with the 1 shutout.
The lone seniors on this team, David Titanic and Kyle Badham, will be sailing off into the sunset after a great four year career. In the 100 career games David Titanic suited up for, he scored 23 goals while adding in 27 helpers for 50 career points. Titanic was a major factor on the Lakers Penalty Kill during his career. Same thing can be said about Kyle Badham. In 73 career games for Badham, he chipped in 6 goals and 15 assists for 21 career points. Both guys left some great memories for the fans of the Green and Gold during their four year careers. Both guys will indeed be missed!
Oswego had a few question marks going into the start of the season. By the time the dust settled and all was said and done, the Oswego State Men's Hockey team left their fans with more memorable moments!
(Photo provided by Oswego State Athletics)
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