Zalewski Tallies Four Points as Lakers Survive Knights

As smooth as the sailing was for the Oswego State men's ice hockey team through the first 40 minutes of play Friday night, it was an equally rough final 20. The Lakers nearly blew a 4-0 lead as they narrowly avoided an upset with a 5-4 win over Geneseo at the Campus Center Ice Arena.

The Lakers earned their 4-0 lead off of goals by Matt Whitehead and Brendan McLaughlin, sandwiched between a pair of markers from junior defenseman Rich Zalewski (pictured). The goal by McLaughlin was the 50th of his collegiate career. Senior goalie Ryan Scott shut the Knights out through the first two periods to bring his scoreless streak to 100 consecutive minutes. It was a familiar scene for the Knights who were blanked 5-0 by the Lakers at the Wilson Ice Arena nearly three months prior.

But Geneseo looked like an entirely different team coming out of the second intermission. Dave Schroeder scored his first goal of the season just over two minutes into the period. Geneseo then capitalized on an interference penalty to Whitehead and netted a power-play goal from Brendon French to cut the lead to 4-2. Midway through the period, Daniel Sullivan chased a puck down in the right wing corner and banked a shot in off of Scott to make it 4-3.

Oswego State was able to come up with a back-breaking answer with 6:17 to play as Tyler Lyon hustled to the edge of the Geneseo crease on a 2-on-2 and finished a feed from Ryan Ellis. The goal brought the Campus Center crowd to their feet and looked to be a demoralizing blow to Geneseo's comeback effort. But the Knights refused to roll over.

Trent Cassan lit the lamp on a Geneseo power play to cut the lead back down to one with 3:02 left to play. Ryan Scott had allowed the Knights to stay within reach despite his team's better than two-to-one advantage in shots on goal. Moments later, Geneseo's leading goal scorer Mathieu Cyr got a chance to tie the game on a partial breakaway. Scott made the save this time to preserve the 5-4 lead. He'd continue to deny the Knights as they brought on an extra attacker in the final seconds and the Lakers held on for two points in the SUNYAC standings.

The loss dropped Geneseo from the sixth and final playoff spot. Cortland moved ahead of the Knights and into a three-way tuie for fourth place with 11 points. Those two clubs square off Saturday night in Cortland. Meanwhile, the Lakers will try to defeat Brockport for the 10th straight time. Face-off is set for 7 p.m. with pre-game starting at 6 on 88.9 FM WNYO.

Ryan Maloney