The Oswego State men's ice hockey team held off Hobart College late to secure a 5-4 win at home on Friday night in the Marano Campus Center Arena. With the win, nationally-ranked Oswego gets its 10th victory of the season, going to 10-1-2. The Statesmen, which is receiving votes in both national polls, fall to 8-5-0.
Oswego was able to score the game's first four goals, notching two in both the first and second periods. Hobart answered back, however, scoring a goal with less than a minute to play in the second and the final period's first two, making it a 4-3 game. The Lakers got a rebound goal from Kenny Neil with less than 10 to go, and that proved to be the game-winner. After two penalties were whistled on Oswego, the Statesmen were able to bring it back to a one-goal game during a 5-on-3 situation. Still on the power play in the game's final minute, the Lakers' penalty kill and goalie Matt Zawadzki were able to ward off a last-ditch effort by Hobart.
In the first period, Shawn Hulshof opened the scoring at 21 seconds, as Mike Montagna found the sophomore for a goal. The Lakers next goal, and prettiest of the night, came at 13:27 from Alex Botten. Botten went top shelf but the maneuvering of Neil for the assist was a highlight reel play, flipping a puck over a sprawling defender right to his teammate's stick. Matt Galati was also in on the score, sending an outlet pass to Neil to start the transition.
Botten and Neil teamed up again in the second period, this time collecting assists on a Stephen Johnson goal at 4:34. At 14:53, Hulshof registered his second of the night with six seconds left on an extra-man opportunity. Senior captain Bobby Gertsakis was credited with an assist on the Lakers' fourth goal.
The Lakers' final goal came at 12:32 of the third, as Galati ripped a shot high that bounced off the glass and back in front of the crease for the Neil goal.
Zawadzki made 25 stops in net for the Lakers, helping push the team's win streak to five and his record to 5-1-1.
Oswego will be back in action for a rare Sunday contest when it hosts Southern New Hampshire University at 2 p.m. in a nonconference affair.
