The Oswego State men’s hockey team was able to avoid falling under .500 on the season after a 3-1 win over Nazareth College at the Bill Gray’s Iceplex in Rochester.

If the Lakers had lost, it would have been the first time they fell below a winning record since the 1998-1999 season, when head coach George Roll was still behind the bench.

Roll was at the game and saw first-hand Oswego State avoid the loss, all because he was behind Nazareth College’s bench as the eighth-year head coach of the Golden Flyers.

“We’re good friends, so obviously he knew what we were under and they had the weekend off,” head coach Ed Gosek—Roll’s successor—said. “It’s nice to catch up with him, play against him. That part is always special to share because of our friendship.”

Behind the net, it was a quiet game between the Lakers and Golden Flyers. But, between physicality and a plethora of shots, Oswego State found a way to secure its first win since Dec. 7 at SUNY Fredonia.

Travis Broughman led the team with five shots. Only four players did not register a shot. Jody Sullivan did have a shot go off the post late in the game, and Jeff Solow and Tyson Kirkby both created a lot of offensive opportunities.

Broughman ended up drawing first blood for the Lakers at 5:41 of the first period, with Josh Zizek and Tanner Spink both registering assists. That line also created the Lakers’ third goal at 18:40 of the regulation period, with Zizek on a one-time shot right in front of Nazareth College’s Michael Tilford, with the cross-ice pass from Broughman. Spink got the secondary assist on that goal, as well.

Anthony Passero rounded out the scoring for Oswego State with a goal at 12:08 of the second period, after he took a shot that trickled past Tilford.

“[Zizek, Spink and Broughman have] been our most consistent players over the last four games. We had to mix something up here,” Gosek said. “We just needed a different mindset and a different feeling.”

Aside from that line, there were also a couple other changes due to injury. Gosek mentioned that Michael Gillespie and Joey Scorpio were both out with injuries, but did not say the severity.

Tyler Antonucci cracked the lineup in the third defensive pairing, and Ryan Bunka was the extra skater. Tyson Kirkby was on the second line, along with Jeff Solow—who is typically a defenseman. Gosek said Solow “created turnovers, was sound defensively and didn’t throw the puck away.”

“We were shy a forward, so why not put a defenseman up there?” Gosek said. “I thought he did a nice job. I thought he was one of our better forwards.”

Oswego State was not able to capitalize on its one power play opportunity after Zander Pryor was called for boarding. The Lakers did go 2-3 on the penalty kill, allowing a goal on the second penalty kill after a Mitch Emerson boarding call. Cole Moore scored the Golden Flyers’ lone goal, assisted by Casey Kubara.

“We played better. We made less mistakes. We made one on the PK when they scored,” Gosek said. “We certainly cut down on mistakes. But, our puck management in our own end still wasn’t great.”

Goaltender David Richer also earned his first win since that same SUNY Fredonia game. The senior had not played a complete game since Jan. 4 against the University of New England in the Oswego State Hockey Classic.

The last two games, he was either replaced by Cedric Hansen, or came in relief of Hansen.

He made 31 saves against Nazareth College, with Gosek adding that he did not believe Richer saw the one shot that he let past him.

“He tracked the puck well. He just made the saves that he needed to make,” Gosek said. “Let’s hope that this will get his confidence back and get him playing the way he’s capable of.”

Oswego State (8-7-0, 6-1-0 SUNYAC) now has over a week until its next game on Jan. 24 against SUNY Cortland. Nazareth College (7-5-2, 4-3-0 UCHC) travels to King’s College this Saturday in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

Gosek said the team will have a couple practices before giving them the weekend off.

“We’ll get back Monday and try to get back in sync,” Gosek said. “That’s really the key here.”

Photo by Ben Grieco | The Oswegonian