The Oswego State women's ice hockey team returned to the playing surface after a long layoff and did not miss a beat, trumping visiting Potsdam 4-0 on Friday afternoon in the Marano Campus Center Arena. With the victory, the Lakers improve to 3-2-0 overall and 2-1-0 in ECAC West play while the Bears fall to 2-2-1, 2-2-1.
Assistant Captain Bridget Smith was lights out in net for the Lakers, stopping 29 shots on the way to her eighth career shutout.
Oswego's first tally came from Brianna Rice with just 26.5 seconds remaining in the first period. Rice found the puck in front of the Potsdam net and was able to force the puck past the Bears' goalie.
Bailee Goodon was next up in the goal column, going top-shelf just 4:31 into the next stanza. The Lakers were not done in the second, as Goodon got another point with an assist to Victoria Blake. Blake received the pass from Goodon just inside the blue line and ripped a shot for a score.
Heading to the final 20 minutes with a 3-0 lead, Oswego put some insurance on the board as Rice scored her second of the game, unassisted, at 5:01.
Oswego's penalty-kill unit held the Bears off the board on both their extra-man opportunities to help preserve the shutout. The Lakers also owned the faceoff (29-19) and took five more shots than their opponents (34-29).
Both teams will square off again at 11 a.m. on Saturday to conclude the weekend series.
