Last Time Out

The Oswego State Lakers last played in the Oswego State Hockey Classic and lost to Manhattanville College on Jan. 6 by a score of 4-1. Michael Gillespie scored the lone goal for the Lakers, with assists from Charlie Pelnik and Joey Molinaro. The Lakers went 0-4 on the power play, including a long five-minute major, with a spearing call against Bryan Platt of the Valiants. David Richer allowed three goals, and made 31 saves. The fourth goal was an empty net goal.

The Nazareth College Golden Flyers took on SUNY Canton on Jan. 9 and won 3-2. David Powlowski had a two-goal performance in the victory, both of which came in the third period of the game. He had both the game-tying and game-winning goal against the Roos. Michael Tilford claimed his seventh win of the season. He made 33 saves in the win, stopping 11 shots per period.

Looking at the Golden Flyers

The Golden Flyers will begin a four-game road trip starting with Oswego State. They are 4-3-1 on the road for the season. Their last away game was Jan. 6 against SUNY Potsdam, resulting in a 5-3 victory over the Bears.

In recent weeks, the goaltenders of Nazareth College have excelled. In early December, Tilford was named the UCHC Goalie of the Week as he made 67 saves in one week, with a .957 save percentage. Tilford made 29 saves in the game against Neumann University resulting in a 3-2 overtime victory, and 38 saves in a 1-1 tie against Stevenson University the next day. In the game against SUNY Potsdam, Sean Kuhn, in his first collegiate start, made a program record 56 saves in one game. He was named the UCHC Rookie of the Week.

Senior Oliver Janzen and freshman Ray Falso lead the Golden Flyers with 14 points each. Janzen has a team-leading seven goals. Falso has a team-leading eight assists along with Austin Romzek. Four of Janzen’s goals have come off the power play.

Lakers vs. Nazareth College History

The Lakers and Golden Flyers have not been playing for ages, but have had a strong rivalry since the 2012-2013 season. Overall, Oswego State has a 6-2-0 advantage. The teams also played against each other at the Norwich Holiday Tournament in 2016, but the Golden Flyers won 3-0 during the game in Vermont.

Last season, in an 8-0 win for the Lakers, Mitch Herlihey had three assists in the game. The Lakers have only been defeated by Nazareth College once on Nazareth College’s ice. During the 2015-2016 season, the Lakers were defeated 3-1. Oswego State has shut out the Golden Flyers three times in their short history.

Player Spotlight

OSW: Michael Gillespie

Michael Gillespie had the lone goal in the 4-1 loss against Manhattanville College but has been a strong force and a positive face for the Oswego State Lakers. He has ten points on the season, with five goals and five assists. However, his biggest role has been energy. Despite not scoring any goals, Gillespie was all about the comeback against SUNY Fredonia and was found in multiple pictures celebrating if he had scored all of the goals in the 5-3 victory on Nov. 18.

NAZ: David Powlowski

David Powlowski scored two of the three goals in the Golden Flyers’ victory over SUNY Canton. He leads the team in goals, along with Janzen, at seven goals. He is fifth on the team with nine points, adding two assists, as well. He is also on a three-game point streak, including another two-goal performance against SUNY Potsdam in the 5-3 victory. He will be a player to watch for as the Lakers try to stop another multi-point performance from Powlowski.

By the Numbers

RECORD (vs. each other)

OSW: 10-3-1 (6-2-0)

NAZ: 8-5-2 (2-6-0)

GOALS (per game)

OSW: 51 (3.6)

NAZ: 45 (3.0)

SHOTS (per game)

OSW: 507 (36.2)

NAZ: 457 (30.5)

POWER PLAY (percentage)

OSW: 13-63 (20.6%)

NAZ: 17-89 (19.1%)

Lineup Card

Prediction

Oswego State has had a much more dominant season than the Golden Flyers. The Lakers will also be looking to bounce back after the 4-1 loss to Manhattanville College and also the 4-3 loss against Middlebury College. However, the Golden Flyers are currently on a seven-game point streak. Since Dec. 1, Nazareth College is 5-0-2, including an 8-1 win over King’s College in Pennsylvania.

David Powlowski will be a player to watch, as well as Ray Falso, who has stood out as a freshman in his first season at Nazareth College. Michael Tilford will most likely get the start in goal, but it is also a possibility that Sean Kuhn might see the ice after the 56-save performance earlier in the week.

Head coach Ed Gosek switched things up during the Oswego State Classic, and played David Richer back-to-back games. Cedric Hansen last played against Middlebury College during the Middlebury Holiday Classic. He allowed four goals on 19 shots. David Richer will be making his third straight start tonight.

Oswego State wins 4-2.