The Oswego State women`s ice hockey team advanced to the semifinals of the ECAC West Championship with a 3-1 victory over Buffalo State on Saturday afternoon in the Campus Center Ice Arena.
With the win, Oswego improves to 17-8-1 on the year and more importantly earn the opportunity to play No. 2 Elmira next Saturday. The contest will be played on neutral ice as the No. 1-seeded Plattsburgh Cardinals will host both semifinals contest as well as Sunday's championship.
Buffalo State netted a goal at the 7:25 mark of the first period and held that lead for almost two periods but Oswego State would not be rattled. Early in the third period, Emma Smetaniuk evened the game at 1-1 with a goal from captain Olivia Boersen and Leslie Jarvis.
The Lakers would take its first lead of the contest with the eventual game-winner from Melissa Seamont at 7:51. Oswego was operating with an extra attacker on a delayed penalty as Tori Trovato headed to the bench. Seamont took advantage, netting a goal from Jarvis and Erika Truschke.
Less than 20 seconds later, Oswego was at it again, this time as senior Mady Paul added an insurance goal on the power-play at 8:10. An assist was credited to freshman Ashley Lyman.
Trovato earned the start and victory in net for the Lakers, making eight saves on the afternoon.
Oswego absolutely dominated action throughout the contest, outshooting the Bengals 40-9. The penalty kill unit continued to be effective as it has all year, holding Buffalo State scoreless on four power-play chances.
