Laker Gameday Preview: No. 15 Men’s hockey vs. No. 7 Utica College
The No. 15 Oswego State men’s hockey team will look to turn things around against No. 7 Utica College after back-to-back losses during the Pathfinder Bank/Oswego State Hockey Classic. That same weekend, Utica College had two wins over Adrian College on Jan. 4 and 5.
In what has become an annual game against nationally-ranked teams, the Lakers hold a 14-6-5 record over the Pioneers. Last year’s game, almost a year to the date, resulted in a 3-3 tie at the Marano Campus Center. The year before that was also a 3-3 tie at Utica. The Pioneer’s last win over Oswego State was on Jan. 5, 2013, in a 6-0 win at Utica.
Last Time Out
OSW: In an attempt to defend their title in their own tournament, the Lakers fell in both games to finish at the bottom of the four teams. Oswego State fell 1-0 against Saint Mary’s University (Minnesota) on Friday, and then 4-3 against No. 9 University of New England on Saturday. Travis Broughman scored two goals over the course of the weekend, while Tanner Spink added a goal himself. David Richer made a combined 39 saves between the two games, allowing five goals in two games.
UTI: The Pioneers improved to 9-2-2 on the season after a weekend sweep of Adrian College, with a 7-6 overtime win on Saturday followed by a 4-3 overtime win on Sunday. In the 4-3 win, Utica College went down 3-0 early, before scoring four straight goals, including the game-winner, to seal the victory. Sixteen players registered at least one point, with Regen Cavanagh leading all scorers, adding three goals and two assists. Gianluca Baggetta started both games, making 79 saves between the two games.
By the Numbers
RECORD (conference)
OSW: 7-5-0 (6-1-0 SUNYAC)
UTI: 9-2-2 (4-2-1 United Collegiate Hockey Conference)
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GOALS (per game)
OSW: 47 (3.9)
UTI: 56 (4.3)
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SHOTS (per game) [shooting percentage]
OSW: 449 (37.4) [10.5%]
UTI: 454 (34.9) [12.3%]
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POWER PLAY (percentage)
OSW: 10-50 (20.0%)
UTI: 10-53 (18.9%)
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PENALTY KILL (percentage)
OSW: 37-51 (72.%)
UTI: 44-59 (74.6%)
Statistic Leaders
Oswego State
Goals
- Travis Broughman — 9
- M. Emerson / J. Sullivan / C. Fletcher — 4
- M. Novick / J. Zizek / T. Kirkby / J. Molinaro — 3
Assists
- Anthony Passero — 13
- Max Novick — 8
- T. Broughman / M. Emerson / J. Molinaro — 6
Points
- Anthony Passero / Travis Broughman — 15
- Max Novick — 11
- Mitch Emerson — 10
Plus/Minus
- Carter Allen — +11
- Max Novick — +10
- A. Passero / T. Broughman / J. Molinaro — +9
Save Percentage
- David Richer — .908%
- Cedric Hansen — .816%
Goals Against Average
- David Richer — 2.43
- Cedric Hansen — 4.36
Utica College
Goals
- Brandon Osmundson — 10
- Kasper Kjellkvist / Donovan Ott — 6
- Daniel Fritz / Dante Zapata — 4
Assists
- Brandon Osmundson — 12
- Daniel Fritz — 10
- Conor Landrigan — 8
Points
- Brandon Osmundson — 22
- Daniel Fritz — 14
- Kasper Kjellkvist — 12
Plus/Minus
- Justin Allen — +13
- Brandon Osmundson / Cameron Bartkoski — +12
- Vaden McManus — +11
Goals Against Average
- Joseph Giacobbo — .932%
- Gianluca Baggetta — .907%
- Sean Dickson — .905%
Save Percentage
- Joseph Giacobbo — 1.50
- Sean Dickson — 2.33
- Gianluca Baggetta — 2.78
Starting Lineups
Oswego State
Forwards
Derek Brown — Mitch Emerson — Tanner Spink
Michael Gillespie — Anthony Passero — Travis Broughman
Jody Sullivan — Josh Zizek — Joseph Molinaro
Alex Dicarlo — ____________ — Josh LeBlanc
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Defense
Max Novick — Chris MacMillan
Carter Allen — Tyler Currie
Carson Vance — Tyler Antonucci
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Extra Defensemen
Ryan Bunka
Jeff Solow
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Goaltenders
David Richer
Cedric Hansen
Steven Kozikoski
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Scratches: Charlie Pelnik, Joey Scorpio, Colton Fletcher, Tyson Kirkby
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Utica College lines were not provided at the time of publishing.
Players to Watch
OSW: Travis Broughman
After a two-goal performance in the loss against the University of New England, Travis Broughman has continued to solidify his place as a proficient scorer. He is now tied with Anthony Passero for the team lead in points with 15. The sophomore has found strong chemistry along with Passero. Broughman will need to have some strong sharp-shooting against an offensive-filled Utica College squad.
UTI: Regen Cavanagh
Regen Cavanagh had a five-point weekend against Adrian College during the two overtime battles. The sophomore has a lot of confidence coming into a game against a struggling Oswego State team, who has not won since the beginning of December, even though it has only been two games.
SUNYAC Update
Even though the game between Oswego State and Utica College is a non-league matchup, here are the SUNYAC standings after last weekend.
SUNYAC Standings
- Oswego State — 12 points (7-5-0 overall, 6-1-0 SUNYAC)
- SUNY Geneseo — 11 points (10-2-1 overall, 5-1-1 SUNYAC)
- Morrisville State — 10 points (7-6-0 overall, 5-3-0 SUNYAC)
- The College at Brockport — 10 points (7-6-0 overall, 5-4-0 SUNYAC)
- Plattsburgh State — 7 points (4-8-1 overall, 3-3-1 SUNYAC)
- Buffalo State — 6 points (6-5-0, 3-3-0 SUNYAC)
- SUNY Cortland — 6 points (5-7-1, 3-6-0 SUNYAC)
- SUNY Potsdam — 5 points (2-11-1 overall, 2-6-1 SUNYAC)
- SUNY Fredonia — 3 points (2-7-3 overall, 1-6-1 SUNYAC)
SUNYAC teams playing tonight or the team’s next game:
- Oswego State hosts Utica College (non-league) tonight for a 7 p.m. game
- SUNY Geneseo travels to Stevenson University (non-league) tonight for a 7 p.m. game
- Morrisville State will travel to the University of New England (non-league) on Jan. 11 for a 4 p.m. matchup
- The College at Brockport travels to Lebanon Valley College (non-league) tonight for a 7 p.m. matchup
- Plattsburgh State will host Wesleyan University (non-league) on Jan. 14 for a 7 p.m. game
- Buffalo State hosts the first of two games against SUNY Canton this weekend (non-league) tonight for a 7 p.m. matchup
- SUNY Cortland will host Wilke’s University (non-league) on Jan. 14 for a 5 p.m. puck-drop
- SUNY Potsdam hosts Neumann University (non-league) for the first of two games this weekend, tonight for a 7 p.m. game
- SUNY Fredonia will travel to Bryn Athyn College (non-league) on Jan. 11 for a 4 p.m. matchup
Prediction
Right off the bat, Utica College has to be the favorite in this game. So far this season, Oswego State has not had success against ranked opponents, losing to Hobart College, SUNY Geneseo, the University of New England and Salve Regina University. The Pioneers are currently ranked No. 7 and are on a four-game win streak, while the Lakers have lost their last two games.
While it has been a while since Utica College defeated Oswego State, those close ties can only be confidence boosters for the Pioneers. The way the Lakers have been playing recently helps, as well.
Oswego State has to find a way to not let up after taking a lead. The biggest game where that was almost a concern was against SUNY Fredonia. A 4-2 lead quickly turned into a 4-4 tie. While the Lakers did win 5-4, that was likely thanks to a late power play opportunity and Tyson Kirkby with the game-winner. Oswego State cannot hope for a power play opportunity—even then, the power play unit is only at a 20.0% success rate, compared to last season, where the man-advantage could not be stopped.
The Lakers need someone other than Travis Broughman to find the back of the net. While several players have multiple goals, Broughman more than double the next most, which is four. These next couple games will also be a very good test for goaltending. David Richer has played in all of the major games, including last weekend, but head coach Ed Gosek and the rest of the coaching staff has continuously said they are looking for consistency, and quite honestly, Richer has not brought that.
Oswego State is also going to run a unique system with two extra defensemen and only two wingers on the fourth offensive line.
Utica College has more offensive firepower, and the defense will need to be solid against the Pioneers—the Lakers cannot rely on their blue-liners to bail them out.
Final prediction: 4-2 Utica College over Oswego State.
Cover photo by Alexis Fragapane | The Oswegonian
