The Oswego State men’s club hockey team traveled to Pennsylvania on Feb. 9 and 10 to face the Pittsburgh University Panthers. The Panthers, ranked 17th in the nation, are a national playoff regular in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), a great test for the Lakers before their playoffs.
The first matchup was neck-and-neck for the majority of the game. It was also a clean game throughout with only five penalties assessed in the game.
The Panthers controlled the puck for most of the first period, they outshot the Lakers 17-10. Carter McWilliams opened up the scoring in this game as he found the net just under six minutes into the first period. He was assisted by Trevor Jubran and Duncan Crawford, this was Jubran’s 20th assist on the season. The Panthers did not hesitate to return the favor, as they followed up with a goal about a minute later. The puck traveled back and forth but did not find the net for the rest of the period. Both teams entered the second period with one point apiece.
The second period was a much more even affair when it came to opportunities, as both teams had 13 shots on goal. The Panthers goalie could not hold up, as Ryan Saelens scored a goal just under seven minutes into the second period. He was assisted by Josh Laravia. The Lakers had two consecutive penalties following this, giving the Panthers four minutes of power play time, but no scores came from this. However, after a holding penalty was called on the Panthers, the Lakers immediately pounced and Jubran found the goal. He was assisted by Laravia and Braydon Deming as the Lakers headed into the third period up 3-1.
The defense for both teams was at its best in the third period, as both teams could only put up 17 shots combined. Time dwindled for the Panthers, and they scored their final goal with only a minute left in the game. The Lakers did not allow a goal after this, and won the first matchup 3-2.
A goalie change for the Panthers was exactly what they needed in the second matchup. Although the Lakers put up ten more shots than the previous game, they were shutout in this one, as the Panthers dominated 5-0.
A penalty from the Lakers opened the door for the Panthers, as they scored their first goal of the game on a power play just over nine minutes into the first period. The Lakers had multiple opportunities to tie the game up, but failed as the Panthers scored their second goal with three minutes left, bringing it to 2-0 heading into the second period.
The longer the period went on, the more frustrated the Lakers got. As within a five minute timeframe early in the second period the Lakers were assessed three penalties. However, the Lakers power play defense played well and did not allow a goal during the opportunistic minutes for the Panthers. After this, the Panthers did the exact same thing as the Lakers were not able to put up any scores with six minutes of power play time. The second period had no scoring, still 2-0 heading into the third.
The Lakers had control of the puck early on in the third, blasting off shot after shot, but none of them found the net. The Panthers on the other hand, found the net just eight minutes into the third period. They would rattle off two more back to back late in the third, as the Lakers were never able to find the net. The Lakers lost this matchup 5-0.
The playoffs will run through Oswego however, and with six graduating seniors it is a well experienced team. The Lakers will find out their opponent on Feb. 16 and face them on Feb. 17 in the semi-finals of the NECHL playoffs. Come out and support your Lakers at 1 p.m.
Photo by: Partick Byrnes
