The second-ranked Oswego State men’s ice hockey team survived a third-period flurry from visiting Utica to come away with a 3-2 win on Saturday night at the Campus Center Ice Arena. The Lakers held a three-goal lead heading into the final period, but the Pioneers registered two goals late in the third period to test the young Oswego team. The Lakers improved to 7-1-0 overall, while Utica suffered its first loss of the season for a record of 2-1-1.Oswego got off to a quick start as the Lakers went on a power play in the first minute of the game. Utica effectively killed the penalty, but Oswego State caught the Pioneers in a line change as Paul Rodrigues skated up the left side of the rink. Rodrigues threaded the puck through the crease to Chris Ayotte for the one-timer past Utica goaltender Anthony Luckow for a 1-0 lead just passed the three minute mark into the first period. Halfway through the opening period , the Pioneers were whistled for a penalty. After the ensuing face-off, Stephen Mallaro took a blast from center ice that found its way into the back of the net for his third power play goal of the weekend to give the Lakers a 2-0 margin. Utica gained control of play at the end of the period, as Oswego committed two penalties with less than two minutes remaining, but did not score before the horn to end the second.
Utica carried momentum into the second period as it still held a 5-on-3 advantage for 30 seconds. However, the Lakers got through the situation unscathed as the Pioneers were unable to get on the board, putting the momentum back in favor of the Lakers. The line of Justin Fox, Chris Laganiere, and Eric Selleck quickly to advantage of the swing by creating an odd-skater rush. After chaos in front of the net, Fox tallied his sixth goal of the season with assists going to both of his linemates at 1:38 in the second period.
So Oswego came into the third period with a 3-0 lead infront of a big crowd at the Campus Center, and Utica got some momentum into the third period as Utica got on the board almost halfway into the final period when Sean Timkey threw the puck on goal with Gunn-Taylor making the initial pad save, but the rebound went right onto the tape of Evan Chlanda, who did not miss the empty net. The Pioneers cut the deficit in half to 3-2 when Brian Gibbons scored a power play goal on a rebound at 15:51 with assists going to Scott Birnstill and Chlanda.
In a very physical contest, both squads combined for 63 penalty minutes on 22 penalties as each team was 1-for-7 with the extra skater. Gunn-Taylor finished the game with 21 saves, while Luckow compiled 34 saves on 37 shots.
from Oswego Sports Information