Oswego, NY - After a week off, the Lakers welcomed the Hobart Statesman in a battle of #4 versus #1. Hobart, with a goal in the first 20 seconds, never looked back and took care of business in Oswego, beating the Lakers, 5-2.
 
BASICS 
Oswego 2 (6-1, 4-1 SUNYAC)
Hobart 5 (9-0, 5-0 SUNYAC)
Deborah F. Stanley Ice Arena and Convocation Hall | Oswego, NY
 
HOW IT HAPPENED 
Just 18 seconds into the game, Hobart's Tanner Daniel scored the first goal of the game. Hobart silenced the Oswego faithfully as they grasped a 1-0 lead. Hobart controlled the puck for most of the opening minutes and was granted their first power play of the game in the 1st minute. The Lakers did a good job killing this one off. The game remained physical and Oswego got their offense moving a bit more. They had a good chance in the sixth minute, but Hobart deflected the pass intended for Jesse Horacek near the goal. Oswego then had a power play of their own, but Hobart's continued good defense killed it off. Hobart had a break away in the ninth minute and capitalized once again. It was again off a rebound and Hobart was starting to pull away as they led, 2-0. The game went slow and both teams went dead on shots. It wasn't until the 17th minute that Oswego scored and the teddy bears flew. It was Colin Vassallo off the feed from Matt McQuade. The Lakers were right back in as they cut the deficit to just one. The energy was up in the Deb as the buzzer sounded to end period 1.

The second period started off slowly with both teams not getting too many shots off. Hobart continued to have good looks at the net but every time it got dicey for the Lakers, McCarthy held his own at the net. Hobart in the 13th minute would have a faceoff on their end. The Statesmen would extend their lead to two. Shortly after a goalie change for the Lakers, Hobart would get yet another good look at the net. Once again, they took care of the puck and found the back of the net. Hobart, in the blink of an eye, had a commanding,4-1 lead in the second period. Hobart kept control of the puck and the Lakers couldn't get anything going on offense. The second period finished with Hobart leading 4-1.

Oswego, trying to get back in this one, were ultra physical to start out the final period. Shots were flying for the Lakers but none could get past the Statesmen defense. The Statesman stayed very sound on defense throughout the third, Oswego had the puck in Hobart's zone but clean looks were scarce. Oswego kept energy high trying to fight back. In the 15th minute, Oswego made things a bit tighter. Connor Gatto, off the rebound, put it behind the goalie to make the margin manageable with just under five minutes remaining. The Lakers pulled the goalie in the closing minutes and Hobart was able to add one final goal to make it 5-2.The Statesmen now led, 5-2.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Oswego is right back at it with a chance to get back in the win column against another tough opponent. They travel to the Adirondack Bank Center to square off against the #14 Utica Pioneers tomorrow. Puck will drop at 7:00pm.
 
Written by: Luke Belanger