The streak of widespread scoring continues for the No. 6 Oswego State men’s hockey team in its 6-3 win over SUNY Cortland on Friday night.

There were five different goal-scorers, with Max Novick leading the Lakers, adding two goals an assist to start the season. Jody Sullivan, Colton Fletcher, Tyson Kirkby and Mitch Emerson also chipped in goals for the Lakers.

It was Fletcher’s first collegiate goal, after only playing seven games during his freshman campaign last year. The sophomore now has two career points, after adding an assist last season.

“I thought Novick was solid tonight. But, there were some shift change issues with him and others,” Oswego State head coach Ed Gosek said. “Fletcher’s getting there. Offensively, he’s a threat. He looks to score, he looks to shoot. We like those qualities about him.”

The Lakers also limited their penalty minutes against the Red Dragons, only committing five penalties, one of which was cancelled out by a SUNY Cortland penalty to avoid a man-disadvantage.

Compared to the 40 penalty minutes in two exhibition games for Oswego State, Gosek said he was pleased with just 10 minutes and the better discipline.

“I didn’t think there were any (bad penalties). Maybe Carter Allen’s, but the others were just hard-working penalties that they have to call,” Gosek said. “There was nothing from laziness or just undisciplined attitudes. That, I thought, was a huge positive.”

While most things seemed positive in the offensive zone for the Lakers, it was the defensive zone where Gosek was not happy with his team’s play. In what was originally a 6-1 game, defensive awareness and positioning hurt Oswego State, allowing two late SUNY Cortland goals, almost giving it a change to have an empty-net situation.

David Richer made 26 saves in net for the Lakers, and received praise from Gosek for some of the “big saves” when the defense was caught out of position.

Gosek also did not blame Richer for the second Red Dragon goal, which seemed to go off the body or stick of Tyler Currie, dribbling past Richer, who was making a save attempt on the original shot.

“We have to be better with our awareness, positioning and execution of our coverage,” Gosek said. “That (second goal) is going to happen. But, it’s not even the three goals as much as the chances they got.”

After the win, Oswego State earns two points in SUNYAC play, and is tied for first with The College at Brockport, who defeated Plattsburgh State on Friday night in Plattsburgh. Morrisville State also has two points after defeating SUNY Fredonia.

In other SUNYAC standings, SUNY Geneseo and SUNY Potsdam tied 2-2 in overtime, putting both teams in third and fourth with one point a piece. Buffalo State was the only SUNYAC team not to play a league matchup on Friday.

The Lakers (1-0-0, 1-0-0 SUNYAC) will host Plattsburgh State (0-1-0, 0-1-0 SUNYAC) on Nov. 8 and SUNY Potsdam (0-0-1, 0-0-1 SUNYAC) on Nov. 9 for Oswego State’s annual Whiteout Weekend. The Cardinals and Bears both have games on Saturday before traveling to Oswego State next weekend.

“We’ve got to continue to get better here. It’s a work in progress. We’ll take the two points and move on,” Gosek said. “Our No. 1 priority will be our defensive zone and our special teams. We made some steps in the right direction.”

Photo by William Rogers | The Oswegonian