The No. 7/8 Oswego State men's ice hockey team – in Oswego's only competition on Friday night – defeated the host Red Dragons of Cortland 4-1 at Alumni Arena. Nationally-ranked Oswego's victory keeps its perfect start to the campaign alive at 5-0-0 overall and 3-0-0 in SUNYAC action while Cortland drops to 2-3-0, 1-2-0.
Cortland actually opened the scoring late in the first period but the Lakers would not allow that advantage to last for long. The Red Dragons were whistled for an infraction just moments later and Oswego capitalized on the man-up opportunity. Kenny Neil and the Lakers' recent addition to the 100-point club, Alex Botten, teamed to find Shawn Hulshof for the equalizer with exactly one minute remaining in the first period.
The top line continued to control the action in the middle period, scoring the eventual game-winner at 10:01. This time it was Hulshof and Button pairing to locate Neil for an even-strength goal to make the Laker lead 2-1.
An insurance tally came in the final period when Neil and Hulshof again were involved, this time to find a defender. Senior captain Chris Raguseo ripped a shot from the point that tinged off the crossbar and into the back of the net to make it a 3-1 Laker edge. Hulshof's assist on his classmate's goal was the 100th point of his career, joining Botten as the second Laker to enter that exclusive company this season.
With under a minute to play, Cortland pulled its goalie to try and create some offense but junior Mitchell Herlihey scored his first of the year to seal Oswego's triumph.
David Jacobson played the entire game between the pipes for the Lakers, stopping a season-high 28 shots to move to 3-0-0 on the year.
Neil and Hulshof both finished with three-point nights on two assists and one goal while Botten had a multiple-point night with two helpers.
Oswego's penalty kill was unblemished on the night, halting Cortland on all five of its opportunities.
The Lakers will return to the ice at 7 p.m. on Friday when they head to the North Country to face Potsdam. Oswego will face nationally-ranked Plattsburgh the following night.
