OSWEGO, N.Y. – Oswego Women's Hockey returned to home ice this Friday evening to kick off their end of season SUNYAC run with a two-game series against the Buffalo State Bengals. Looking to continue their winning streak and to secure the first conference points of the weekend, the Lakers came out ready to dominate. Oswego set the standard for the night notching their first goal just over one minute into the first period. After finishing the first two periods with a comfortable 4-0 margin, the Lakers continued to run away with the game, adding a fifth tally early in the third and one on the powerplay not much later. A second short-handed goal scored by Ashlyn McGrath with just 0:04 seconds left to play would cap off the Lakers' 7-0 win over Buffalo State. A stellar 32-save performance by veteran goaltender Lexi Levy would secure her sixth shutout of the season.
THE BASICS
Final Score:
Oswego 7 (15-2-1, 11-1-1 SUNYAC)
Buffalo State 0 (5-14-1, 1-11-1 SUNYAC)
Location: Deborah F. Stanley Ice Arena | Oswego, N.Y.
HOW IT HAPPENED
An opening faceoff win by first year Meagan Smith would award Oswego with immediate offensive entry. Catching the Bengals on their heels, it wasn't long before Erika Parenti notched the first of the goal just 1:37 into the first period. The Lakers would maintain possession in the following minutes, but as the period got underway, Oswego would struggle to break it out of their defensive zone. The Bengals would capitalize on lanes between a disconnected Laker unit, getting shots through to Lexi Levy. After a couple minutes spent on defense, a good transition and zone entry by Oswego would set up senior Mack Hull in the high slot, where she would put the puck short-side high over the shoulder of opposing goaltender Jessica Auge at the 10:49 mark. Now leading 2-0, the Lakers picked the pace back up in the closing minutes of the first.
Keeping their pace from the end of the 1st period, Oswego would start the second with some jump, putting a compilation of shots on Auge right off the bat. Lauren Schell would drive down the left wall in the Bengals' zone, keeping the puck in play. Schell would then find the stick of Brittany Iversen out in front of the crease, where she would net a third unanswered goal at the 6:46 mark. A few minutes later, Buffalo State would be charged with two consecutive penalties, giving Oswego plenty of time on the powerplay. Despite a handful of quality scoring chances, the Lakers would maintain their 3-0 lead until Simone Bednarik corrected their unsuccessful advantages with a short-handed 4th goal with just less than a minute to play in the period. Sending Oswego into the final frame with a comfortable 4-0 margin.
The Lakers would keep their foot on the gas pedal in the beginning minutes of the final period, with assistant captain Rachel Corbett adding a fifth goal to the tally at 6:34. Oswego's scoring rein would quite down in the following shifts, but they would have no issue controlling play and continuing to test Auge in net. Bengal Mikala Gould would suffer a penalty late in the period, giving the Lakers their third powerplay of the game. On which first year Sydney Pinti would make good on a passing play between Corbett and defensive partner, Leah Coley, extending the scoreline to 6-0 with 5 minutes left on the clock. Rylee Preston would be sent to the box last-minute for a holding penalty, but undeterred Ashlyn McGrath would follow in Bednarik's penalty kill initiative, securing her second short-handed goal of the week and capping off Oswego's dominant 7-0 win against the Buffalo State Bengals.
WHAT'S NEXT
Oswego Women's Hockey will return to the Deborah F. Stanley Arena tomorrow afternoon for the second matchup of the weekend against the Bengals of Buffalo State. Puck drop is set to commence at 3:00 PM.
Written by Matilda Pethrick
@OswegoAthletics | FB: OswegoAthleticsOfficial | IG: oswegoathletics
