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 State squad. 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 State 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 (Fr., Etobicoke, Ont.) skated up the left side of the rink. Rodrigues threaded the puck through the crease to Chris Ayotte (Cornwall, Ont.), who charged up the left side for the one-timer past Utica netminder Anthony Luckow at the 3:07 mark for the 1-0 lead.
Midway through the opening frame, the Pioneers were whistled for a roughing penalty. After the ensuing face-off, Stephen Mallaro (Jr., Syracuse, N.Y.) 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 State committed two penalties with less than two minutes remaining, but had
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 Oswego State. The line of Justin Fox (Jr., Whitby, Ont.), Chris Laganiere (Jr., Owego, N.Y.), and Eric Selleck (So., Spencerville, Ont.) 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.
Laker goaltender Kyle Gunn-Taylor (West Seneca, N.Y.) made several key saves during the game, but the biggest may have come at 16:31 in the second period as he slid from right to left post to stop a point-blank shot by Brian Gibbons in the crease at the end of a Pioneer power play.
Utica made the score 3-1 at 9:26 in the third 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.
Utica pulled Luckow with 40 seconds left in the game followed by a timeout with 29 seconds on the clock after the Pioneers were called for offsides. Utica managed one shot in the waning moments, but Gunn-Taylor was in position for the save as Oswego State posted with the 3-2 victory.
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.
