The Oswego State club hockey team returned home to face the Kent State University Golden Flashes on Dec. 1 and 2.

The Lakers had to keep digging themselves out of holes early in both games, as the Golden Flashes wasted no time and scored not even a minute into the first period, bringing the score to 1-0. After this, it was all dominance from the Lakers as they outshot the Golden Flashes 21-6 to finish out the first period. Unfortunately all 21 shots did not find the net, and the score remained 1-0.

The Lakers found themselves in an even bigger hole in the second period, the puck found the net for the Golden Flashes once again, bringing the score to 2-0. The trend of the Lakers having more opportunities than the Golden Flashes did not stop, as they still outshot them 11-9. However, this time, the Lakers finally succeeded as Ryan Saelens notched his ninth goal of the year, assisted by Kyle Gilbert and Braydon Deming. 

The problem for the Golden Flashes: massive penalties giving the Lakers too many power-play opportunities. The Lakers received 39 minutes of power-play time in this matchup, and it proved vital as they scored the game-tying goal in the final five minutes of the third period. Josh Matyasik found his first goal of the season and was assisted by Trevor Jubran. Neither team scored after this, bringing the game into overtime.

Overtime was all but finished a little over two minutes into the period, as Brayden Palfi found the net to bring the score to 3-2 and a Lakers win. Adam Jubran assisted him on the game winner.

The Golden Flashes were firing on all cylinders to begin the second game against the Lakers, as they scored again very early. The Lakers had no response for this offensive onslaught, as they found themselves in a deeper and deeper hole as the period progressed. The first goal came under 90 seconds into the matchup, the second just under five minutes. Four minutes later, the Golden Flashes were up 3-0. Some back-and-forth action ensued, but the Lakers could not respond. After a penalty, the Golden Flashes capitalized on the power play and scored their fourth goal of the period. Even though the Lakers outshot them 15-11, the Golden Flashes still led 4-0 heading into the second.

The Lakers were able to turn the momentum around in the second period, as Andrew Cardi scored on a power play two and a half minutes in. He was assisted by Anthony Divita and Ryan Durand. The period continued with eight penalties assessed combined between both teams, with both teams getting a ten-minute misconduct that evened out the ice. However, neither team scored after the early goal, and 4-1 was the score heading into the third.

` Hope was at an all-time high for the Lakers as Durand chipped into that lead, assisted by Palfi, and the score was 4-2. However, the next score was much too late for the Lakers, but Deming was able to make it 4-3 with under two minutes to go, assisted by Matyasik and Durand. After a crowd-silencing goal by the Golden Flashes, the Lakers went on to lose 5-3. 

We will not see the Lakers play for well over a month, as their next matchup is scheduled for Jan. 12, 2024 against Ohio University.

Photo by: Aubrey Fischer