OSWEGO, N.Y. – (Oswego Photo) – The nationally-ranked Oswego State men’s ice hockey team defeated the No. 4/4 Geneseo Knights, 5-3, on Saturday evening to keep the Lakers a perfect 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the conference. Geneseo falls to 2-1 and 1-1 in the SUNYAC.
With less than a minute remaining in the contest, tied 3-3, Stephen Johnson put back a rebound shot to score the game-winning goal. He was assisted by Joey Rutkowski, who took the original shot in the scrum, and Mitchell Herlihey.
Alex Botten added on an insurance tally at the 19:57 mark to give the Lakers an insurmountable 5-3 lead. The empty-net goal was unassisted.
Two other third-period goals, scored in the first 13 minutes of the frame, provided the necessary momentum for the Lakers to complete the comeback. Kenny Neil started it off with an unassisted power-play score just over three minutes in. Jody Sullivan tallied the other goal off an assist from Herlihey at 12:11 to score his fourth goal of the season. The freshman continues his streak with a goal in each of his first-four-career contests.
After Geneseo scored the first two goals of the game, Shawn Hulshof got the Lakers on the board midway through the second period with a power-play goal from the right side. The senior slapped it just beneath the goalie’s pads with help from Kenny Neil and Matt Galati to record his 97th-career point.
Matt Zawadzki started and played the entire game in goal for No. 12/12 Oswego, collecting 20 saves. The veteran goalie was especially strong in the final period, making several clutch glove saves to keep the game within reach.
The Lakers will return to the ice, on the road, at 7 p.m. Friday evening to continue SUNYAC action against the Cortland Red Dragons.
