Clinging to a one-goal lead after two periods, the Oswego State men’s ice hockey team exploded for five goals in the third period to finish up non-conference play with a 6-1 victory against Hamilton College at Russel Sage Rink on Saturday afternoon.

In their only matinee game this season, the Lakers broke open a close game with three unanswered goals in a three minute span. With the victory, Oswego State finishes the regular season with a non-conference record of 7-2-0.

In an opening period that saw no penalties called on either team, junior forward Luke Moodie continued his hot scoring streak with a goal at 15:32 to give the Lakers a one-goal lead heading into the first period intermission. The Lakers controlled the tempo in the first period, outshooting Hamilton 12-7.

The Continentals (7-8-1 overall, 3-7-0 NESCAC) played better in the second period and stuck with the Lakers the entire 20 minutes, matching the Lakers’ shot total in the stanza. Hamilton limited its scoring chances in the period with three penalties, including one for having too many players on the ice. However, the Lakers were unable to capitalized on any of the man advantages and the second period ended without a goal.

Conditioning played a vital role in the third period, as both teams had played on Friday night. Hamilton had the luxury of playing Friday night’s game at home, but drew a tough Amherst team, which is ranked sixth in the country. The travel for the Lakers did not seem to affect their legs in the third period, as they wasted no time putting the Continentals away.

Junior forward Chris Ayotte scored his fourth goal of the season to give the Lakers a two-goal lead at 6:55 and junior forward Chris Brown tallied a goal of his own just 15 seconds later to build their lead up to three. Moodie struck again for his team-leading 13th goal of the season at 9:55.

The Lakers (14-2-2 overall, 7-0-2 SUNYAC) weren’t done scoring after the three-goal burst in three minutes, as senior defenseman Hank Van Boxmeer tallied his second goal of the season while on the power play at 16:41. Following an interference penalty by Hamilton’s Anthony Ruberto, junior forward Chris Muise found Van Boxmeer for the power-play goal.

Hamilton’s Anthony Scarpino ruined junior goaltender Dan Jones’ attempt at a shutout, scoring the team’s only goal of the game at 17:13 while on the power play. Scarpino’s goal was set up by a roughing penalty by senior defenseman Jared Anderson, as Hamilton struck just nine seconds into the power play.

Sophomore forward David Titanic delivered the game’s final goal of the game at 18:29. The Lakers outshot Hamilton 21-4 in the third period.

With two more goals against Hamilton, Moodie is tied for seventh in Division III with 13 goals on the season. Moodie has scored six goals in the last four games and has two consecutive two-goal games.

The line of Moodie and junior forwards Jon Whitelaw and Paul Rodrigues have been essential to the Laker offense, as they are the team’s three leading scorers.

Jones finished with 21 saves to earn his third win in net for the Lakers. Hamilton goaltender Cam Gibbar finished with 38 saves.

Senior forward and team captain Andrew Mather did not dress for the second straight game.

The Lakers continue their four-game road trip with a stiff conference test against SUNY Geneseo on Friday, Jan. 27, at the Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena.