The nationally-ranked Oswego State men's ice hockey team opened its 2017-18 campaign with a come-from-behind 4-2 win over Elmira College on Saturday night in the Marano Campus Center Arena. It was Oswego's annual Teal Game, raising awareness in the fight against ovarian cancer and honoring the late Mary Gosek – wife of Laker head coach Ed Gosek.
After falling behind two goals early in the first period, Oswego quickly erased the deficit by notching two of its own before the period's end. Both teams went scoreless in the second period but a power-play goal and an insurance tally in the third claimed the Laker victory.
It was a career-night for Josh Zizek, who recorded his first collegiate hat trick. In fact, the sophomore matched his freshman-year output with the three goals in Saturday's contest. He scored both of the Lakers' first period goals to even the score. Both had help from classmate Joey Scorpio while freshman Max Novick assisted on the latter as well. Zizek's final goal was also Oswego's final tally and came off a deflection in front of the net on an extra-man opportunity. Senior David Ferreiracame around the back of the net, found Novick at the point who fired a shot. In mid-flight, Zizek redirected the puck past the Soaring Eagle goalie to make it a 4-2 game with 8:38 remaining in regulation.
Oswego's other goal on the night was also a power-play goal and came a bit earlier in the third. Ferreira settled a rebound right in front of the crease and rocketed high over the goalie's shoulder for the game-winning goal at 5:28. Tanner Spink recorded his first collegiate point on the goal with an assist while sophomore Jody Sullivan also assisted Ferreira.
Goalie David Richer was solid all night in net, making 30 saves to pick up his first triumph as a Laker.
Laker special teams were pivotal in the game, as the penalty-kill unit held Elmira off the board in all but one of seven chances. The Oswego power-play squad was nearly 50.0% (3-for-7) on the night, tallying three of the Lakers' four goals.
Oswego also won the faceoff battle on the night, winning 35 of a possible 61.
The Lakers will have a quick turnaround as they travel to No. 9/10 Hobart at 4 p.m. on Sunday for a nonconference, top 10 battle.
