The game ended 5-0, yet it wasn’t as bad as yesterday’s loss. It left the Lakers without a point for the third time in their last four ECAC West match-ups. Oswego State is still without a win in ECAC West play since the break and now find themselves in fifth place in their division.

Oswego State trailed 2-0 after one but played a far better first than yesterday. Melissa Ames scored her first of two goals on the night in the first stanza along with Courtney Moriarty; who scored her ninth goal on the year.  Despite not scoring for the second straight day the Lakers improved in this one because they were better with the puck.

“I thought overall we played a better game,” Coach Dillon said. “We took a defensive stance against these guys, wanted to slow them down in the neutral zone, changed our forecheck a little bit and it was working for the most part.”

The middle frame was good to the Lakers but again they failed to score. Madrigal shut out the Cardinals in the second period but Oswego State only registered six shots this frame and couldn’t beat Camille Leonard. Failure to get sustained pressure was what kept the puck out of the Cardinal net. Later in the period the Lakers had some constant pressure but it just wasn’t enough.

“I thought we battled hard, especially in that second period,” Dillon said. “I thought it was one of our more physical periods playing with some heart. Didn’t generate a lot of offense but it’s hard against these guys.”

Going into the third period the Lakers just needed a bounce to go their way and the game could’ve been going in the right direction. Oswego State had over a minute of carry over time from the Moriarty roughing minor at the tail end of the second period.

“We had hoped to generate something off of that [power play],” Dillon said. “We got a couple looks but we just didn’t bury it. Against a team like this we’re going to have to score ugly goals.”

Oswego State got their looks early. The Lakers matched their shot total ,at that time, with five before the two minute mark of the final period.  Luck was not on the Lakers side all weekend and they needed it against the best team in the nation. Going into the third it seemed Oswego State had a real shot and the Laker locker room was into it but just couldn’t finish.

“They were ready to go,” Dillon said. “They felt that they had a chance. We felt everyone believed in what we were doing.”

A late third period collapse hit the Lakers and Coach Dillon was not too happy about that. Plattsburgh State scored three goals in the last eight minutes of the game that ended the dreadful weekend for this team.

“I think we ran out of gas and couple people quit on us and that is unacceptable,” Dillon said. “The third goal of theirs was just blown on ours, we just made a huge mistake. The fourth and fifth, that to me, we just quit. We stopped skating and I’ve never had a team that has done that.”

Depending on how you look at it the collapse could take away from the nice second period and the good start to the third. The coaching staff was very unhappy with how the Lakers faded late.  That is something Oswego State can’t have now that they are holding onto the fifth seed.

“You have to be able to put 60 minutes together,” Dillon said. “It’s a character trait that’s looming it’s head at this point of the season that we can’t have and if we have to play two lines we’ll do it.”

Oswego State was out shot 47-11 today and the entire weekend they let up 91 shots to their 25. The Lakers looked like they belonged in a different league at times this weekend and needs to change as they head to Buffalo State where a huge four points are on the line.

Three Stars

1- Melissa Sheeran

The sophomore impressed again tonight. She scored two goals again and registered eight shots, one more than yesterday, to lead her team in that category yet again. Sheeran’s first goal was almost an exact image of her second marker yesterday. She beat the Laker defense then shielded defenders with a nice move to the net and roofed it backhanded over Madrigal. Her performance this week should earn her player of the week honors somewhere.

2- Melissa Ames

Ames was the second Melissa to score two goals today. She opened the scoring then ended the scoring when the Lakers were totally checked out of the game. Ames registered four shots and finished with +2 rating on the day. She played some big minutes today and that helped her reach the three goal mark on the weekend.

3- Camille Leonard

The Plattsburgh goalie posted her tenth and eleventh shutouts this weekend but today was the tougher of the two. She only had to make 11 saves but some early stops in the third were huge in order to keep her team perfect on the year. Leonard now has .12 GAA with a .991 save percentage  on the year in ECAC West games. I’ll let you realize just how crazy that is. She is one of only two goalies in Div. III with a sub 1.00 GAA and leads every major statistical goalie category.

Gone Missing?

Olivia Ellis leads the team in points with 14 and plays on the top line of this Laker team. There is no doubt she is talented but since the break she hasn’t impressed in conference play. She looked good at times today but it wasn’t enough. In the four conference games since the holiday break she hasn’t scored and is the owner of -9 rating.

Brianna McFall is also missing from the Laker lineup. She hasn’t played since 0-0 tie to Chatham. The freshman is second on the team in defensive scoring with five points. I’m still awaiting word on what McFall’s status is from Coach Dillon. It seems to me that she suffered an injury but it is up in the air.

Best Quote

Coach Dillon brings home the best one liner award yet again with this beauty.

“If I’m our goaltender I’m ready to kill someone.”

She’s just joking by the way.

Up & Coming

Victoria Blake played one of her best games of the season. She has played in just ten games this year and has only one career point but she gave the Lakers some much needed energy. Blake is listed as a forward and  defenseman but seems better suited on defense and it’s starting to show. That’s a good sign for Oswego State now and down the road.

“She’s coming along,” Coach Dillon said. “She’s learning every shift out, I think in a physical game like this her stick length and some of her size helps. She’s getting there, I thought she played much better today than she did yesterday. Blake is one of those kids that is trying to learn game to game and shift to shift.”

The Lakers have a huge weekend coming up as they travel to Buffalo to take on the Bengals. They will have to build off their second period today and Oswego State should be able to get the four points they need but it will be tough. The Lakers take on Buffalo State Friday at 4 p.m. at the old Buffalo State Ice Arena.