The Oswego State men`s ice hockey team used a three-goal opening period and outlasted host Nazareth College 5-3 on Tuesday night at Bill Gray`s Regional Iceplex. With the victory, nationally-ranked Oswego moves to 8-2-2 on the year while the Golden Flyers fell to 1-10-1.
Matt Galati was crucial in the Laker win as he notched the team's first two goals. His first goal came in unassisted fashion less than two minutes into the game. Four minutes later, at 6:31, Galati buried another goal, this time with help from Alex Botten and Bobby Gertsakis.
Oswego's final goal in the opening period came from Chris Waterstreet at 11:13 with a single assist credited to Brandon Adams. The Lakers rode the three-goal lead into the first intermission.
Naz would not go easily, however, scoring back-to-back goals in the second period to narrow the Laker lead to 3-2. At 16:06, Dylan Smith would take advantage of a power-play opportunity with the eventual game-winning goal off a pass from Shawn Hulshof.
The Golden Flyers stuck around again, scoring a goal at 1:28 later to cut the Laker to lead to a one-goal margin at 4-3 heading in the final intermission.
Oswego found a way to keep Nazareth off the board in the final period, with Morgan Bonner notching the game's final goal on an empty net with 13 seconds remaining in regulation.
Earning the start in net for the Lakers was Matt Zawadzki, who stopped 23 saves on his way to the victory.
Oswego returns to action at 7 p.m. tomorrow night at #8/8 Utica College in a rematch of the PathFinder Bank/Oswego State Hockey Classic from a week ago. The teams tied at 2-2 through overtime, with Oswego earning the championship with a 2-1 shootout win.
