The Oswego State hockey team’s goal heading into the 2010-2011 season was a breakout season.
On Saturday, the Lakers got their crowning acheivement victory in the five-year history of the program when they stunned top-ranked and undefeated RIT 2-1 to not only hand the Tigers their first loss of the season, but also stop them from clinching their first ECAC West regular season title.
Oswego’s stud senior goalie Emi Williams was nothing short of brilliant for the Lakers, turning aside 46 shots, including 20 in the third period alone to stymie the powerful RIT offense and backstop Oswego to its biggest win in program history.
Plattsburgh transfer Mackenzie Lee continued to make an impact for Oswego, tallying the first Laker goal for her team-leading 12th goal of the season. Olivia Boersen also chipped in with a goal for Oswego to account for the only two goals the Lakers would need to pull of the upset of the year to date.
The victory also clinched Oswego the fifth seed in the ECAC West tournament, its highest place to date and guaranteed the program’s first winning season ever. The Lakers now sit at 12-9-3 overall and 8-7-3 in league play with only a non-conference tilt with Castleton remaining on the docket.
I think its safe to say Oswego has acheived the breakout season it was looking for.
On the flip side of things, Wis. River Falls stayed unbeaten and also has taken over the top spot for the first time ever in the USCHO.com Division III women’s poll. The Falcons garnered 10 of 15 first-place votes and 144 points to dethrone the Tigers’ run from the top spot.
In other action between top 10 teams, Middlebury picked up a big non-conference win, downing Plattsburgh 1-0 at the Chip Kenyon ’85 Arena for their first win over the Cardinals since 2006.
Norwich, who is unbeaten in 12 straight will try their hands at beating the Panthers at the Kenyon Arena tonight at 7 p.m. in a crucial non-conference tilt between the two programs who are ranked third and fourth in the NCAA East Region poll that was just released today at 3 p.m. by the NCAA.
This will be the Cadets first trip to the Kenyon Ice Arena on the women’s side. The two programs met for the first time late last season at Norwich’s Kreitzberg Arena and battled to a 2-2 draw.
Getting lost in the shuffle of Oswego upsetting RIT was Buffalo State downing Elmira 4-3 in overtime on Sunday. The Bengals’ win knocked all hope the Soaring Eagles had in Pool C consideration and now EC will have to win its eighth ECAC West title in order to keep their NCAA Tournament appearance streak alive. Elmira has only missed one NCAA Tournament out of the nine that have been contested. They haven’t missed a Frozen Four since 2007 either.
Player of the Week: Alexi Bloom, Middlebury
Bloom turned aside all 20 shots she faced to help lead Middlebury to its first win over Plattsburgh since 2006. The shutout was Bloom’s ninth of the season and 14th of her career for the blue and white. She tops the country in goals against average at 0.84 and .958 save percentage.
Goalie of the Week: Emi Williams, Oswego
Williams made 46 saves to backstop unranked Oswego to an upset 2-1 win over #1 RIT on Saturday. Williams is 11-8-2 on the season with a 1.71 goals against average and a save percentage of .941.
Rookie of the Week: Amanda Cartony, Gustavus Adolphus
Cartony scored two game-winning goals to lead the Gusties to two important league wins over Hamline and help the Gusties assert their lead at the top of the MIAC standings once again. Cartony has four goals and three assists on the season for seven total points.
