The Oswego State men's ice hockey team defeated New England College 4-3 on Saturday evening at the Campus Center Ice Arena in Oswego.

The victory by the Lakers improved Oswego State's record to 9-4-2 on the season and it was the first loss of the year for the Pilgrims, who are now 7-1-1. New England College entered the game ranked 13th in the latest USCHO.com Division III Men's Poll while Oswego State was ranked 14th.

The Lakers built three two-goal leads in the game only to see the Pilgrims answer each time and reduce the margin to a one-goal advantage.

Oswego State got off to a good start when Ryan Ellis scored on a breakaway with 8:28 remaining in the first period. The goal was the team-leading ninth of the year for Ellis, assisted by Brendan McLaughlin and Peter Magagna.

The Lakers extended the lead to 2-0 with a goal by Joe Hall two minutes later on a wrister from the right wing circle, assisted by Chris Laganiere and C.J. Thompson.

New England College got on the board late in the first when Mark Ehl scored his eighth of the year on a rebound off a shot by Mike Carmody.

The teams traded goals in the second and third periods. Oswego State's Tony DiNunzio scored his first of the season on a wraparound just 19 seconds in the middle period and Brian Pouliot scored on a 5-on-3 power play for the Pilgrims with 4:40 left in the second.

In the third, McLaughlin scored for the Lakers and Mike Mullen scored for New England College.

The Pilgrims pulled the goalie in the final minute of the game, but couldn't get a good scoring chance against Oswego State and goalie Ryan Scott, who finished the game with 17 saves. New England College goalie Ron Baia made 22 saves in the contest.

It was Oswego State's first win against a ranked team this season and the Lakers improved to 9-0-0 on the season when leading after two periods. The Lakers return to action on Tuesday at Hamilton College. The game begins at 7 p.m.

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