After a slow start, the Oswego State men’s ice hockey team exploded for five goals in the second period en route to a 6-0 decisive victory over SUNY Cortland on Friday night at Alumni Arena.

Senior forward and assistant captain Ian Boots and junior forward Paul Rodrigues each tallied two goals and the Lakers posted five power-play goals in the SUNYAC opener for both teams.

Following a scoreless first period that saw a total of three penalties and 20 shots, the Lakers registered their first power-play goal of the night on Rodrigues’ first goal of the game at 2:17 of the second period. After an interference penalty on Cortland’s Michael Lysyj, Rodrigues collected a pass from junior forward and assistant captain Jon Whitelaw and beat goalie Brittan Kuhlman for the goal. Junior defenseman Zack Josepher was awarded with the secondary assist on the play.

Less than a minute later, Boots increased the Laker lead to two on a breakaway goal for his second goal of the season.

The Lakers (3-0-0 overall, 1-0-0 SUNYAC) rallied off three power-play goals in the span of 4:27 late in the second period to give the team a 5-0 advantage going into the second intermission. Following a tripping penalty to Jake Saville, junior forward Luke Moodie capitalized with the power-play goal at 13:05. Rodrigues  and Whitelaw were awarded assists on Moodie’s goal.

Junior forward Chris Brown scored his first goal of the season on the power play at 14:25. Following a high-sticking penalty to Tyler Virgoe, Brown corralled a pass from Boots and beat Kuhlman from the team’s third power-play goal of the night.

Rodrigues continued the strong special team’s play with a 5-on-3 power-play goal at 17:32. Following penalties to Saville and Joey Christiano, the Lakers took little time to capitalize on the two-man advantage. Sixteen seconds into the 5-on-3 power play, Rodrigues scored his second goal of the game to make it a five-goal lead for Oswego State. Whitelaw and Josepher were credited with the assists.

Boots second goal of the game at 14:26 of the third period gave the Lakers their fifth power-play goal of the night. Following a penalty to Matty Davie, Boots took a pass from Brown and put the puck past Kuhlman for the final goal of the game.

Kuhlman finished the game with 34 saves, allowing six goals in a losing effort for the Red Dragons (0-1-0 overall, 0-1-0 SUNYAC).

While the Red Dragons had trouble staying out of the penalty box, the Lakers committed just four penalties all night. Oswego State finished 5-for-11 on the extra man advantage.

The Laker defense limited Cortland to just 19 shots and did not allow more than seven shots in a single period. Cortland recorded just five shots in the third period. Oswego State finished with 40 shots, including 18 in the second period alone.

Oswego State junior goalie Andrew Hare made 19 saves in net to earn his third win in as many games and his first shutout this season.

The Lakers will travel to Utica on Saturday night to take on the Pioneers at the Utica Auditorium at 7 p.m. in a non-conference game.