The No. 5/5 Oswego State Lakers used a hot start that saw two goals in the first 1:32 to get their twelfth win of the season and the 300th of head coach Ed Gosek’s career in a 5-1 victory over SUNY Cortland.

“I’d like to thank all the players here, the fans, the admistration of the college,” Gosek said. “I’m thankful they gave me an opportunity, I’ve made a lot of good memories and good friends.”

The Lakers came out strong with a Mitch Herlihey goal just 39 seconds into the contest, coming off a deflection at the bottom of the circle from a Devin Campbell shot from the point.

Less than a minute later at the 1:32 mark, forward Tommy Horn sprung Cam Berry on a breakaway and the junior was able to find an opening past SUNY Cortland goaltender Drew Weigman to give the Lakers a lead they would not relinquish.

“I really like the way we came out in the first,” Gosek said. “Herlihey had the guys focused to start and David Richer kept us in it early.”

Richer, who started his fourth consecutive game tonight, stopped 19 of 20 shots he faced. Seven of those saves came during the first period, four of which Gosek described as “Grade A opportunities.”

On the offensive end, Tanner Spink added to the goal total at the 11:01 mark of the first period as the beneficiary of a tic-tac-toe play between himself, Aaron Huffnagle and Mitch Emerson.

The Lakers would stretch their lead to 4-0 in the second period when sophomore forward Michael Gillespie was able to capitalize on a breakaway from a sky pass off the stick of Campbell at 12:21.

Richer’s shutout bid was spoiled at the 12:33 mark of the third period when Sean Perichak was able to redirect a Louis DiMatteo shot from the point on a Red Dragons power play following an Emerson tripping penalty less than a minute earlier.

Special teams were almost nonexistent in tonight’s contest, with SUNY Cortland going 1/3 on the man advantage while Oswego State did not have any opportunities against a disciplined Red Dragons team.

With the win, Oswego State takes control of first place in the SUNYAC with 15 points. SUNY Geneseo, who entered the night tied with the Lakers settled for a 1-1 tie against Buffalo State, leaving them in second place with 14 points.

Gosek provided no clarity on the goaltending situation for tomorrow’s afternoon tilt against Utica College, but he did mention he was interested in seeing how his two goaltenders, Richer and Cedric Hansen responded to play back to back games.

The first place Lakers will travel to Utica College for a non conference matchup against the Utica College Pioneers at 2:00 p.m.

Story by Ryan Zalduondo