As the Oswego State Lakers took the Campus Center ice Saturday night for the championship game of the Oswego Hockey Classic, one player was noticeably missing. Reigning SUNYAC MVP Ryan Ellis was in street clothes, a healthy scratch for the first time in his four-year Laker career."Every player is being held accountable for their play, the coaches made that clear after the Hobart game," said sixth-year Lakers Coach Ed Gosek. "There's no more living with a guy just because he's scored 20 goals. I don't care if you're an All-American or not, you're held accountable."
The absence of Ellis left room in the lineup for forward Andrew Mather to take the ice for just the third time this season. The freshman did not wait long to seize the opportunity. Mather scored twice in Oswego State's 5-2 victory over Augsburg. His first tally came just 74 seconds in as he crossed the blue line, stopped at the top of the right circle, turned his back to the net, then whipped back around to rifle a wrist shot over the right shoulder of Auggie backstop Andrew Kent.
The Laker offense utilized that jump start for two more goals over the next eight minutes and never looked back. Senior pivot man Derrell Levy took the puck of his own end board, moved from the left wing to the right, beat the Auggie defense to the right post then slid the puck across the crease to Garren Reisweber. The man who owns the most famous goal in Laker history easily buried the chance for his fourth goal of the tournament. That gave the Lakers a 2-0 lead in the game's seventh minute.
Less than two minutes later, Matt Whitehead would expand the lead to 3-0 with Oswego State's only power play goal. The Lakers skated into the locker room with momentum on their side as the first period came to a close.
Mather got the scoring started again in the second, this time batting home a rebound off a shot from Brendan McLaughlin. Mather, who had yet to score a collegiate point coming into the night, was meshing well with the veteran forward line of McLaughlin and Peter Maganga.
Mark Lozzi continued his remarkable season with his ninth goal just 30 seconds into the third period. The Lakers had a commanding 5-0 lead and were firing on all cylinders. Augsburg's Nick Guran would cut into the deficit with a pair of power play goals, but the Lakers held on to re-capture the title of their own tournament.
Laker defenseman Hank Van Boxmeer, goalie Tim Potter, and McLaughlin were named to the all-tournament team. Reiswever was named Most Valuable Player, a decision his coach can't argue with.
"He stopped worrying about scoring goals and it's made him a better player," said Gosek. "I think he's playing better than he ever has."
Oswego State's win earned them their second Pathfinder title in the three year history of the event. St. Norbert earned the crown last season after the Lakers won the inagural tournament in 2006. Both teams went on to win that season's division three national championship.
Ryan Maloney
WNYO's 3 Stars:
1. Andrew Mather (2 goals)
2. Derrell Levy (2 assists)
3. Tim Potter (Win, 26 saves, 92.8 save %, 2.01 GAA)
Photos from Facebook.com
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