The nationally-ranked Oswego State men`s ice hockey team handed No. 4/4 Plattsburgh just its second loss in SUNYAC play 4-3 during the regular season finale on Saturday night at Stafford Ice Arena. Oswego`s win improves its record to 17-6-2 overall and 10-5-1 in conference play while the Cardinals fall to 19-4-2, 12-2-2.
The Lakers have earned the No. 3 seed in the SUNYAC Championship and will host No. 6 Fredonia at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. Tickets will be available to the general public starting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday by phone, at the box office or online at tickets.oswego.edu.
Brandon Adams scored the game-winning goal unassisted at 17:28 of the third. Adams was able to net his ninth goal of the year in the final three minutes to upset the Cardinals on their home ice.
The first period went relatively easily, as neither team was able to score while Oswego were whistled for two penalties. Chris Waterstreet's penalty at 18:21 carried over to the second period but Plattsburgh was unable to capitalize on the power-play.
The Cardinals wasted no time after the Lakers were back at full-strength, however, scoring a goal just five seconds later at: 26 of the middle period.
Leading 1-0 a few minutes later, Plattsburgh was nabbed for contact to the head, which resulted in a game misconduct. Oswego would take advantage of the extra-man opportunity, first with Mike Montagna's power-play goal with an assist to Stephen Johnson at 4:45. The goal knotted the game at 1-1 and just under two minutes later, Andrew Barton scored a power-play goal to give the Lakers a 2-1 edge. Bobby Gertsakis and Alex Botten were credited with assist on Barton's tally.
Plattsburgh evened the score 2:04 later and then stole the lead back 53 seconds after that at 9:20 of the second. Botten would not let the game go to the final intermission without a tie, gaining his second point of the night by scoring the sixth combined goal of the second period at 12:57. Chris Carr found Botten for the score.
Matt Zawadzki earned the victory in net to improve to 10-2-2 on the year after relieving Justin Gilbert halfway through the second period. Zawadzki played the contest's final 30:40 in scoreless fashion, making 22 saves on the night.
