Junior defenseman Jesse McConney scored his first two collegiate goals in a game marred by numerous penalties, as the Oswego State men’s ice hockey team defeated Elmira College, 6-2, Saturday night in the home opener at the Campus Center Ice Arena.
In a complete opposite of Friday night’s game at Elmira, the second-ranked Lakers jumped out on the sixth-ranked Soaring Eagles with a power-play goal at 5:17 of the first period. Following a roughing penalty by Rick Acorn and a tripping penalty by Dylan Herold that left Elmira on the wrong side of a 5-on-3 power play, McConney scored his first collegiate goal to give the Lakers their first goal of the game and their first power-play goal of the season. McConney received a pass from junior forward and assistant captain Jon Whitelaw in the slot and wristed a shot past Elmira goaltender Darren McDonald glove side for the early 1-0 lead.
The Lakers (2-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 SUNYAC) increased their lead to two following a goal by junior forward Tyler Leimbrock at 16:20 of the first period. Junior defenseman Hank Van Boxmeer wristed a shot on net that was blocked aside by McDonald to the front of the net, where Leimbrock was their to wrist a shot of his own that beat McDonald over his glove-side shoulder for the goal.
The first period featured a total of nine penalties (six on Elmira, three on Oswego State), but resulted in just one power-play goal. The Lakers had six power-play opportunities in the first period alone, but only came away with McConney’s goal early in the frame. Unlike Friday’s contest, the Lakers heavily outshot the Soaring Eagles, 14-6, in the first period.The Lakers outshot Elmira 41-32 for the game.
McConney scored his second power-play goal of the game just 50 seconds into the second period on Elmira’s seventh penalty of the game. Following a roughing penalty to Kevin Willer, McConney received a pass from junior defenseman Zack Josepher at the blue line and fired a slap shot through traffic that found its way on net and past McDonald for the third goal of the game for the Lakers.
Oswego State again found the back of the Elmira net during the second period on a goal by senior forward Ian Boots. Boots’ goal was the result of a scramble in front of the Elmira net after a shot by junior forward Chris Muise was turned aside by McDonald. Boots collected the loose puck and and beat McDonald on his stick side for the goal. Boots’ goal was the Lakers’ first goal scored by the first line this season. Boots’ goal led to an Elmira timeout, which resulted in McDonald being replaced in net by Ryan DeMelo. McDonald finished with 14 saves on 18 shots faced in 23:44 in net.
Junior forward Luke Moodie scored his second goal in as many games after a nice deke move in front of the net, resulting in a backhanded wrist shot just inside the right side of the net.
Elmira (0-2-0 overall, 0-0-0 ECAC West) finally broke through with a goal of its own at 14:42 of the second period on the power play. Rick Acorn received a centering pass from behind the net by Darcy Vaillancourt and beat junior goaltender Andrew Hare glove side for the Soaring Eagles’ first goal of the game.
Junior defenseman Tim Carr increased the Laker lead back to five at 9:56 of the third period. Junior forward Chris Brown found Carr at the blue line, who wristed a shot through heavy traffic in front of the net and past DeMelo’s glove side for the Lakers’ sixth goal of the contest. Carr had one goal all of last season.
Elmira scored its second power-play goal of the game at 15:12 of the third period to cut the Laker lead to four. With the man advantage, Jesper Strale fired a shot on goal that Hare knocked down in front, but Wes Consorti collected the puck on the left side of the ice and wristed a shot into the open net.
Hare, who started the game in place of senior goaltender Paul Beckwith, who was scratched from the lineup, finished with saves to earn his second win in net this season for the Lakers. DeMelo finished the game with 21 saves on 23 shots faced in 36:16 of action.
The game featured a total of 20 penalties, totaling 40 penalty minutes. The Lakers went 2-for-9 on the man advantage, while the Soaring Eagles finished 2-for-10.
The Lakers open conference play on the road when they travel to SUNY Cortland to play the Red Dragons on Friday, Oct. 28.
