With a win this weekend in the semi-finals of the ECAC West playoff, the Oswego State Lakers would accomplish a trio of tasks that they haven’t in their program’s history: Defeat Plattsburgh State, win at Elmira’s home ice, and head to the finals of the ECAC West.

“In a one-game format, anything can happen,” Head Coach Diane Dillon said.

Oswego lost both games against Plattsburgh this year, by scores of 0-4 and 1-5. Plattsburgh was then ranked no.1 in Division III, but is now ranked no.2.

Despite both losses, this team may be one of the best that has ever gone out on the ice in program history. Currently ranked 6^th and 20^th in defense and offensive, respectively, in Division III, this team also set a program with 19 wins, two more than last year.

However, this upcoming contest against Plattsburgh State hosts many challenges. The Cardinals rank 1^st in the nation scoring over five goals per game, and are 5^th in defense.

“We certainly look at tendencies and special teams,” Dillon said on what she’d be looking for in film study this week.

The Lakers have come very close in recent history to upsetting the Cardinals, but haven’t been able to capitalize on all cylinders of their game to do so. In a game where one team is the underdog, sometimes it takes an aggressive game plan to catch the other team off guard. Dillon said that she is waiting to see how the game unfolds.

“We’re planning on different scenarios for different lines, for Plattsburgh and our own, and we like to show them a couple of different looks so we are preparing for everything.”

The biggest strength of this Laker team that will keep this game competitive is their excelling play on special teams; capitalizing on opponent’s mistakes and not allowing them to capitalize on their own. They are the best team in the nation at killing the power play, and have seen an improvement at moving the puck and taking better shots in the second half of the season. A team like Oswego can defeat anybody in the nation if they limit penalties and continue their superior penalty kill.

“If they play well defensively,” Dillon said about her team, “we’ll get some opportunities, but we just have to bury them. We had opportunities in the last Plattsburgh game, we just didn’t finish, or we missed rebounds, things that could have changed the outcome of the game.”

The matchup of the game however will be both goalies, both of which are in the elite category of players between the pipes in Division III. Bridget Smith of Oswego was named all-first team for ECAC West, and is also tied for first in the nation with a .948% save percentage, and tied for second with six shutouts. Camille Leonard of Plattsburgh earned ECAC West all-honorable mention and is tied for ninth in the nation in save percentage, and tied for second in shutouts.

Key to the game:

The key for Oswego is to keep the game a low-scoring one. If they contain the Cardinals within the first two periods, they have a great chance to upset them. The Cardinals have scored their least amount of goals (40), and have surrendered the most (19) in the third period of their games this season. For the Lakers, it is the other way around. The Lakers are outscoring their opponents 30-7 in the third period this year, and pose a threat to any team that they are trailing or tied with after two periods. That, and also having the chance to upset the no.2 team in the country would also be a huge momentum shift in favor of the Lakers if they find themselves in that situation.

Team Statistics:

Team Offense –

Oswego State: 2.65 goals per game (20^th nationally)

Plattsburgh State: 5.12 goals per game (1^st nationally)

Team Defense –

Oswego State: 1.58 goals allowed per game (6^th nationally)

Plattsburgh State: 1.52 goals allowed per game (5^th nationally)

Power Play –

Oswego State: 21-110 [19.09%] (17^th nationally)

Plattsburgh State: 22-91 [24.18%] (4^th nationally)

Penalty Kill –

Oswego State: 82-88 [93.2%] (1^st nationally)

Plattsburgh State: 71-82 [86.6%] (19^th nationally)