Visiting Geneseo State scored the game's opening goal 22 seconds into the first period, setting the tone for what would end up being a frustrating night for third-ranked Oswego State in a 4-2 loss to the Blue Knights in a SUNYAC conference matchup before 2,770 fans at the Campus Center Ice Arena on Saturday, November 22.
The defeat snapped an 11-game regular season unbeaten streak (10-0-1) in conference play for the Lakers (6-2-1 overall, 4-1-1 SUNYAC), dating back to January 26 of the 2007-08 season (a 6-0 win at Potsdam), while Geneseo (7-3-1 overall, 3-2-1 SUNYAC) moves into a tie for third place with Buffalo State in the standings.
Dan Brown of Geneseo scored the games opening goal off of assists from Michael Forgione and Sebastian Panetta before freshman Eric Selleck (Shanley, ONT/Pembroke Lumberkings) scored his fourth goal of the weekend and team-high tying eighth of the season at 6:37, getting assists from seniors Matt Whitehead (Newmarket, ONT/Newmarket Hurricanes) and Kyle McCutcheon (Caledon East, ONT/Brockville Braves). The Blue Knights would retake the lead for good almost seven minutes later as Forgione scored his third of the season at 13:39.
Oswego opened the second period with a goalkeeper change as freshman Paul Beckwith (Cleveland, OH/Pembroke Lumberkings) replaced starter Chris Hyk (Hamilton, ONT/Georgetown Raiders) in the net. He held Geneseo at bay for the entire period, stopping all four shots, and stayed firm for the opening minutes of the third period before the Blue Knights registered the game winner at the 5:14 mark on a goal from Clint Olson.
The Lakers pulled to within a goal when junior defenseman Tyler Lyon (Foxboro, ONT/Wellington Dukes) scored from the blueline on setup passes from seniors Peter Magagna (Orangeville ONT/Wellington Dukes) and Brendan McLaughlin (Brampton, ONT/Brampton Capitals). Beckwith was pulled for the extra attacker for the final 45 seconds, but Geneseo put the game away on an empty net goal from team co-captain Casey Balog with three seconds remaining.
Beckwith finished with seven saves in 39:15 in the nets in picking up his first loss of the season, while Hyk stopped eight shots in the first period for the Lakers, who held a 33-19 shots on goal advantage, but went 0-for-5 on the power play. Geneseo goalie Cory Gershon stopped 31 shots.
NOTES: The loss by Oswego marked the beginning of a crazy evening for the top three teams in the most recent U.S. College Hockey Online (USCHO) NCAA Division III Poll. Defending champion and top-ranked St. Norbert College picked up its first loss of the season in a 4-3 defeat at Wisconsin-Superior, while second-ranked Plattsburgh State trailed host SUNY Potsdam by three goals after two periods before scoring three times in a five-minute span late in the third period in a 4-4 overtime draw. The Lakers will face the Knights on day one of the St. Norbert College Thanksgiving Invitational On Feiday, Nov. 28 at 7 p.m. in Green Bay, WI.
