OFFENSE: A
The Oswego State Lakers offense came out firing on all cylinders with three goals within five minutes. Freshman Jean-Marie Padden was a top forward on the ice with two goals for the Lakers. She opened the scoring after she stole the puck along the half wall and wristed a shot five-hole past Justine Silva. The senior goaltender was almost stunned by the shot as she was not able to drop into the butterfly as fast as she usually does. That was the trend for the majority of the first period as the Buffalo State Bengals could not contain the Lakers offense.

The Lakers offense in the first period registered just 10 shots on goal. However, most of the play was in Buffalo State’s end. Oswego State’s ferocious forecheck could not be stopped as they skated to loose pucks faster than the Bengals and managed to win nearly every board battle, especially in the first period.

Senior Olivia Ellis was another dominant force for the Lakers as she had two goals. Her first goal was a typical Laker goal as it started with a ton of hard work. Andrea Noss got the puck from behind the net and turned came out to the left side of Silva. Noss wrapped around the net and fed a pass across the crease to Ellis who jammed home the loose puck.

Although the Lakers dominated offensively for the majority of the first, there were a few moments in which they took their foot off the gas. In the last few shifts of the first and early portion of the second period, the Lakers strayed away from their game. Instead of short passes, Oswego State looked to fire long stretch passes from their end to as far as the Buffalo State blue-line. This tactic did not work well; however, after a few shifts, the Lakers got back to their effective passing.

In the final 40 minutes, the Lakers tacked on two goals. Padden had a phenomenal goal shorthanded. She collected the puck in the offensive zone and dangled Silva out of position. Aside from that goal and Ellis’s power play goal in the second period, the Lakers did not have many elite scoring chances. Instead, they kept the puck in the Bengal’s end for extended periods of time by cycling the puck and not forcing risky passes.

DEFENSE: A-
The Lakers’ defense had an overall phenomenal game. The Buffalo State Bengals generated almost zero high-danger chances all game because the Lakers defense was able to force them out of the slot area and along the boards. Once the Bengals got shots on senior goalie Mariah Madrigal, the defense was there to collect the rebound.

In the neutral zone, the Lakers defense was very impressive as they closed the gaps on the speedy Buffalo State forwards. This had a suffocating effect on Buffalo State and made it nearly impossible for them to enter the zone with speed. Taking away the Bengals biggest asset helped the Lakers shut out the Bengals for the second time this season.

For the full 60 minutes, the Lakers were able to break out of their own end. The defense helped out in this regard as they kept their feet moving when they had the puck and supported each other as they tried to exit the zone.

GOALTENDING: A+
As always, Madrigal was a brick wall in net for the Lakers. She made 24 saves to give the team the shutout. Positionally she was very sound as she was able to set her feet and establish her position in the crease. She was fairly aggressive on most initial long-distance shots as she was out towards the top of her crease.

Arguably her best save of the night came in the first period on a two-on-one. After a pass, she was forced to slide from left to right. As she was sliding across the crease, she slapped the puck out of mid-air. She even flashed the glove for a bit of theatrics after she made the tremendous save.

For the few minutes during the game in which the Lakers took their foot off the gas pedal, Madrigal was right there to make saves and preserve the lead.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B+
The Lakers penalty kill  was special this afternoon as they went a perfect 5-5 on the night and tacked on a short-handed goal. The penalty kill was active and aggressive for most of the night. During the kill after Madison Byrne’s holding penalty in the second period, the Bengals could not get the puck into the slot. The Lakers had excellent positioning on the penalty kill as they kept their sticks in the passing lanes.

Each time the Bengals tried to get the puck towards the net, a Laker stick was there to clear it out of the zone. The penalty kill also killed a lot of time by keeping the puck in the neutral and Bengal’s defensive zone. In doing so,
Padden was able to get her short handed goal on the fifth and final kill of the night.

Oswego State’s power play went 1-4 on the night. They had a few good chances, including a near goal by Julieann White. In front of the net, she smacked the loose puck away from Silva and into the net. The goal was called off as the referee lost sight of the puck and blew the play dead.

Ellis had the lone power play goal in the second period. Laura Thacker was down low to the left side of the crease, when she fired a pass across the slot over to Ellis. Silva dove to make the save but she did not get over in time as Ellis fired it into the wide open net.