The Oswego State men’s hockey season comes to an end in the SUNYAC Championship as the Plattsburgh State Cardinals defeated the Lakers 2-1. A goal late in the third period beat Cal Schell on a odd man opportunity to make the difference and reward Plattsburgh State with their first conference title since 2017.
The low scoring affair featured a Cardinals goal in the first two minutes of the first period. Adam Tretowicz put the puck over the blocker of Schell on a turnover in the corner to put the team ahead, and Plattsburgh State never looked back.
Oswego State head coach Ed Gosek had nothing bad to say about how his team played. The defensive matchup added another chapter to the historic rivalry between the two SUNYAC teams.
“There is no regrets,” Gosek said. “Could we have done things differently to generate some offense? I think the way the game played out. Chasing the scoreboard three minutes into the game. It is not like we played poorly. It was not lack of chances. You need a few of those to go in and they did not.”
Coach Gosek talked highly about his opponents. This was the fourth meeting between the two teams this season and it showed that both sides knew each other right at the drop of the puck at the beginning of the game.
“I thought Plattsburgh [State] played very well,” Gosek said. “Give them credit defensively. They hung on to the one goal lead right till we had to take some chances at the end. We got the one to make it close, but I thought their goaltender played well and made big saves.”
Oswego State got their chances throughout the contest. Trent Grimshaw was sprung on a breakaway right off the bench at the end of the first period. Eli Schiller made a great save as the puck slid under him and wide into the corner. Alex DiCarlo and Noah Bull also got great opportunities later in the contest but could not get a puck to trickle in.
“We did not have a lot, but I thought we had enough grade A [opportunities] where one could have fell and could have gotten momentum,” Gosek said. “That could have gotten the crowd into it and put them on their heels, but it did not happen. They played very well defensively. They held the blueline well and you had to chip pucks in but if you did not have any pursuit, it was hard to create and get zone time. When you have the lead, you can play that way.”
Head coach Steve Moffat took over the Cardinals program after legend Bob Emery years ago. Last season, Plattsburgh State fell in the opening round of the playoffs after an overtime loss to SUNY Brockport. Moffat reflected on this past season and the adversity the Cardinals saw.
“This year we were pretty dialed in from day one,” Moffat said. “We have taken it day by day. We have had incredible leadership…they have been outstanding and the rock for our team this year.”
In the previous two matchups, Plattsburgh State has limited the Lakers to just two goals. However, nothing has changed in their playstyle since the start of the year.
“We have not changed much but I think we have gotten better at what we are doing,” Moffat said. “We were blocking shots left and right and that is what wins games. That and winning battles. If you do that consistently you will win hockey games.
Plattsburgh State will get an automatic bid to the NCAA Div. III national tournament as the winner of the SUNYAC conference. The nationally ranked team was in a great position to get an at-large bid if needed. Oswego State however is not in the same position as the Lakers are a little deeper in the Pairwise Rankings.
Coach Gosek finished his 20th season as the Lakers bench boss. Oswego State finished with a record of 17-9-1 and another campaign ended in the SUNYAC Championship final game. This was the fourth consecutive run to the final game of the conference post season after failing three times on the road in SUNY Geneseo.
The national tournament will be selected and locked in on Mar. 6 starting at 10 a.m. as Plattsburgh State awaits an opponent.
Photo Provided By Jim Feeney
