After a strong outing at Buffalo State, the Oswego State women’s hockey team will head to the Northeast Women’s Hockey League championship game against the No. 1/2 Plattsburgh State Cardinals at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena.

The Lakers had a 5-0 win over the Bengals on Feb. 24 to complete the upset over No. 2 Buffalo State. Olivia Ellis and Jean-Marie Padden both scored two goals in the victory. Ellis now has a team-leading 25 points. Padden had six shots in the game and leads the team with 106.

Oswego State head coach Diane Dillon was happy that her team was able to put the gameplan in effect against the Bengals, who beat the Lakers three times in the regular season.

“It’s nice to have all the things you’ve been working on come together and work,” Dillon said. “The players knew they could do it. They just had to do it for 60 minutes, and they did it.”

Dillon attributed to the two players’ performances to converting on the opportunities the team received, something they had not done in recent games. However, she is aware that those opportunities are not as easy to come by against a strong team like Plattsburgh State.

“[The team] didn’t screw around with the puck. They shot it,” Dillon said. “If we do get those opportunities against Plattsburgh, I’m hoping the team will get their heads up and bury it.”

Another successful key in the victory against the Bengals was their special teams. Ellis’s second goal was a power play, which went 1-5 during the game. Padden’s second goal was shorthanded, and the penalty kill unit went 5-5 during the win.

Plattsburgh State has a 24.4 percent success rate on the power play and has killed 90.1 percent of its penalties. Courtney Moriarty has 11 power play goals for the Cardinals. As well-trained as Plattsburgh State is, Dillon said the Lakers will be prepared for whatever they bring.

“They’re not crazy. They’re very specific in what they do, and they do it very well,” Dillon said.

During the regular season, the Lakers had an 0-3-1 record against the Cardinals. The tied 2-2 on Feb. 3 at the Marano Campus Center Ice Arena. The tie ruined Plattsburgh State’s perfect conference record in the NEWHL after back-to-back wins. It was the second tie in four games for the Cardinals.

Dillon said she knows her team can skate with the nationally-ranked Cardinals and that they have a shot at this game.

“All of the pressure is on Plattsburgh. They’re expected to win,” Dillon said. “We know we can skate with them. We know we can play with them. If we have a good start. It’s going to be a very good hockey game.”

Earlier this year, senior goaltender Mariah Madrigal suffered a knee injury on Nov. 18 at Plattsburgh State. The injury kept her out until the beginning of the spring semester. However, it is a fresh start and does not sit in the mind of Madrigal, according to Dillon.

“Mariah is strong,” Dillon said. “She worked her tail off to get back into the lineup. She has played very well since.”

Both teams are only one win away from getting a bid in the NCAA Div. III ice hockey tournament. Whichever team wins the NEWHL conference earns an automatic bid into the championships. Plattsburgh State won the national title last season.

Olivia Ellis, captain of the women’s hockey team, said the team’s goal is to win a national championship, and now they have the opportunity to do so.

“I wouldn’t say that we’re nervous, but we’re anxious to get the game going,” Ellis said. “I think we have to come out strong in the first period.”

During the 2016-2017 season, Oswego State handed Plattsburgh State its only loss of the season on Nov. 20, 2016. After losing 7-1, the Lakers came back for a 3-2 victory at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena.

At the end of the season, the Lakers lost in the first round of the ECAC West playoffs against Utica College. The team has already finished better compared to last season, making it to the championship round. Dillon said that she has received phone calls saying that Oswego State is most likely the only team that can beat the always-strong Cardinals.

“If I’m Plattsburgh, I’m thinking about [that loss],” Dillon said. “Our best players have to be our best players. But that’s what college hockey is all about.”

Oswego State travels to Plattsburgh State on March 3 for the NEWHL championship matchup with the winner heading to the NCAA Div. III national championship later in March.

Photo: Taylor Woods | The Oswegonian