With a three-game win streak to their name, the Oswego State Lakers are looking to make that number four as they host the Neumann University Knights Friday afternoon. Today’s game is also the only conference game for the ECAC West in a busy weekend across the Northeast.

The Lakers come in to this game not ranked, yet again, but received one vote from D3hockey.com for the national rankings. Backed by their hot goaltender, Mariah Madrigal, the Lakers can play with anybody and need to do so again against a 1-7-1 Knights team. A match up they should win and need to win to make up those early season defeats.

A big thing for the Lakers is bringing back home ice advantage. They are 1-2-0 so far this year while last year they finished 12-1-1 at the Marano Campus Center Ice Arena. Neumann is winless on the road this year and poor specialty teams are a main reason.

The Knights have a 9.8 power play percentage, only scoring four goals on 41 attempts this season. They are killing opponents’ penalties at a 75.9 percent efficiency rate. Both those numbers are very poor and something Oswego State needs to take advantage of. The Lakers rank 18th on the power play and their opportunities look better each game.  This could be a break out game for both power play units. The Lakers scored three power play goals last year in the two games.

Mariah Madrigal continues her incredible streak in between the pipes. She ranks third in the nation in both goals against average and save percentage with 0.59 and .977 percent, respectively.  This breakout season and string of wins, has been the primary reason the Lakers are moving up in the ECAC West. Justina Mayr should get the nod in net for the Knights tonight on the other side. Mayr has allowed 28 goals this year in seven games played. She holds a career stat line of 10-34-5 with a .903 save percentage and a 3.32 goals against average.

Players to Watch

Oswego State: Kendall Appelbaum

In last year’s contests against Neumann Appelbaum propelled her team to two wins with two goals and two assists. Her play on the back end this year on the first pairing has been one of the focal points of this team. Her play tonight could be the deciding factor.

Neumann University: Bek Lucas

The sophomore has five goals this year, more than any Laker, with one game winning tally. Last year she finished with nine goals and is already more than half way there nine games in. Her ability to find open ice and eventually the back of the net is what keeps the Knights in games. Her play is the highlight of Neumann because Shanelle Doucette, their leading scorer last year, is no longer on the team.

Game Prediction

The Lakers need to go out and dominate this game if they truly want to be in the top 15. They will do just that. Oswego State will score a power play goal late to cap off a convincing victory against a somewhat underwhelming team. Their inability to keep the puck out of their own end haunts the Knights and will again tonight. If Oswego State doesn’t come out strong Neumann could sneak one by the Lakers and stay in this game.

Oswego State wins 3-0