The nationally-ranked and SUNYAC-leading Oswego State men's ice hockey team opened at two-game series at Morrisville State College with a 4-1 victory on Friday night.
Oswego's win boosts its season record to 13-3-2 overall and keeps its conference mark undefeated at 8-0-1. The Mustangs now hold a 6-11-3 mark on the year while posting a 3-8-0 record in league action.
Oswego scored goals in each period, tallying one in both bookends while notching two in the middle 20 minutes. The scoring began with David Ferreira's third goal of the year off an assist from Charlie Pelnik just 2:28 into the contest. Oswego would carry that one-goal edge into the first intermission.
In the second, it was Ferreira again who found the back of the net for the eventual game-winning goal. The primary assist came from senior classmates Trent Durocher and Devin Campbell. That goal gave way to a power-play tally just 2:26 later. At 8:51 of the second, Mitch Emerson lit the lamp for the seventh time in 2017-18 off an assist from defenseman Max Novick.
Oswego capped the performance with an early goal in the final period. Freshman Michael Gillespie scored at 42 seconds for the eighth goal of his collegiate career. The forward was assisted by first-line mates Mitch Herlihey and Josh Zizek. Both assist men are now in double figures for that category on the year, with the former racking up 14 while the latter now has 10.
As a team, the Lakers won nearly every category, including shots (44-17), faceoffs (32-30) and special teams. Oswego was 1-for-3 on power-play chances while holding the Mustangs off the board on four extra-man opportunities.
David Richer is now just one-win shy of double digits this season as his 17 save shutout on Friday improves his year mark to 9-1-2.
No. 4/5 Oswego and Morrisville will conclude its series at 7 p.m. on Saturday night.
