UTICA, N.Y. – Oswego Men's Hockey traveled to Utica, N.Y. this evening to face off against the Stevenson University Mustangs in the opening matchup of the Delta by Marriot Thanksgiving Showcase hosted by the Utica University Pioneers. A lackluster 1st period would leave the Lakers trailing 1-0 heading into the second period. Brandon Cohen would notch an equalizer goal in the opening minute of the second, but the Mustangs would stay on top, regaining a 2-1 lead and earning a 5-on-3 advantage that would carry over into the third period. A valiant comeback effort by Oswego in the 3rd would leave the game to be decided in a back-and-forth overtime. A buzzer beating goal score by Stevenson would award the Mustangs as 4-3 semi-final win over the Lakers, sending Oswego to the showcase's consolation game tomorrow afternoon.
THE BASICS
Final Score:
Oswego 3 (3-4-1, 3-1-0 SUNYAC)
Stevenson 4 (5-3-1, 2-3-1 MAC)
Location: Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium | Utica, N.Y.
HOW IT HAPPENED
A hot start for the Lakers would grant them an opening faceoff win and immediate entry into Stevenson's defensive zone. Oswego's brief possession would be turned over and sent deep into the Lakers' zone by the Mustangs. A handful of line rushes by an excited Stevenson offense would bait Oswego's defensemen, but junior goaltender Brandon Milberg would get a feel for the puck, recovering a couple shots early in the period. Two consecutive penalties drawn by Stevenson, would award the Lakers the opportunity to settle in on offense, battering Mustang netminder Ford DeLoss with a compilation of shots and testing the Stevenson penalty kill. As play returned to even strength the Mustangs wasted no time capitalizing on Oswego's undisciplined zone coverage, notching the first of the match at the 11:25 mark. Undeterred, the Lakers would work to regain control of play and earn a 3rd power play advantage in the remaining minutes of the first period but would head into the second still trailing 1-0 to Stevenson.
Unsatisfied with the 1st period, first year Brandon Cohen would find the back of the net from the slot, tallying an equalizer goal just 40 seconds into the period. Although play was tied up in terms of scoring, senior forward Daniel Colabufo would put the Lakers back on their heels after drawing a holding penalty on the following play. A connected Oswego penalty kill would keep Stevenson at bay for the majority of their powerplay, until Mustang defenseman Aidan Graham skillfully entered the Lakers zone, putting the puck over the right shoulder of Milberg making the score 2-1 just before the expiration of Colabufo's penalty. Play would return to even strength, but not for long, as a massive hit by first year Mike Urgo would put Oswego back on the penalty kill at 12:23. Despite escaping Urgo's penalty unscathed, the Lakers continued to struggle to stay out of the box as the Mustangs continued to apply pressure in the late minutes of the second period.
With Stevenson starting the third period with a 5-on-3 powerplay advantage, Oswego was extremely vigilant with their puck decisions, clearing the puck out as many times as they could until they regained even strength. As Jesse Horacek and Drake Semrad departed from the box, the Mustangs would not be discouraged by their series of unsuccessful powerplays, making good on an odd-man line rush opportunity and extending their lead to 3-1 at 12:55. Now trailing by 2 goals, the Lakers kept the pressure on, winning 50/50 battles and recovering pucks in neutral ice. Some puck trouble for the Mustang's at the top of their defensive zone would be intercepted and put top shelf by captain Matthew McQuade at the 9:54 mark, improving the scoreline to 3-2. With Oswego on the heels of Stevenson, the Lakers put almost every puck they got on net, eventually generating a scrum in front of DeLoss which would be netted by McQuade at 4:20, tying the game up 3-3. A game-winning goal scored by Colabufo with just 1:38 remaining in regulation would unfortunately get called back due to goalie interference, leaving the score tied 3-3 and sending the game into overtime.
The Lakers and Mustangs would trade turns on offense in a back-and-forth overtime period that looked as though it would need to be decided in a shootout until, veteran Stevenson forward Blake Benson put the puck in the top left corner with just 0:01 remaining on the clock.
WHAT'S NEXT
After tonight's overtime loss, Oswego Men's Hockey will return to action in tomorrow's Delta by Marriot Utica Thanksgiving Showcase consolation game at 4:00 PM in the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.
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