Three goals within 50 seconds in the third period provided most of the
excitement in an otherwise nondescript game as Oswego defeated Buffalo
State, 4-2, in the Campus Center Ice Arena.
“Well, it was exciting for the fans,” Oswego coach Ed Gosek said.
Three of Oswego’s goals were on the power play as they went three for
five while the Bengals were shutout in four opportunities.
“When you are 18% [power play efficiency], we’ll take it,” Gosek said.
“I was pleased we got pucks to the net. We created a lot of openings.”
The third period outburst started at 12:55 with the Lakers clinging to a
2-1 lead. While on the power play thanks to a Johnny Duco high sticking,
Garren Reisweber scored the most impressive goal of the game.
Left unchallenged at the right faceoff, Reisweber decided to wind and
fire a bullet. It flew over the shoulder of Travis Moore into the near
upper corner. Moore had no time to react.
Thirty-nine seconds later, Buffalo State got it back. A questionable
icing call brought the face off into Oswego’s zone. The resultant place
allowed Kerry Barchan to beat Scott.
The Bengals’ excitement didn’t last long for ten seconds later Oswego
had their two goal lead back. Derrell Levy from the slot area
redirected a shot past Moore.
“It was nice to see a career fourth liner who does everything you ask of
him, works, works, works, never complains; it was nice to see him
finally get a goal,” Gosek said. “Something like that energizes the
whole team because they know how hard he works.”
The 4-2 lead held for the rest of the game.
The first period was virtually played entirely in the Buffalo State
zone, as the Lakers outshot the Bengals, 11-5, but Oswego needed a
powerplay midway through to finally put one by Travis Moore.
With Tyler Soehner sitting in the box for tripping, Matt Whitehead fired
a bullet from the left point. It went wide to the near side, but had
enough power to bounce off the boards and come out the opposite side.
There waiting for it was Garren Reisweber on the edge of the face of
circle. He easily one-timed it into the upper near side which was
unguarded as Moore could not get over in time.
Oswego had two more power plays in the opening stanza, but though they
had plenty of excellent opportunities, they could not turn the red light
on. The Bengals’ first power play saw them with a number of close calls,
but Ryan Scott foiled them all. Buffalo State got a late power play that
extended into the second period, but nothing came of it.
After that power play, the second period picked up where the first period
left off — Oswego territorial control. But like the first period, the
Lakers were unable to solve Moore. Tops on the list of saves occurred
when Brendan McLaughlin had an open net on the edge of the crease about
five minutes into the second. Somehow, Moore was able to get his glove
down just in time to turn it away.
Though Oswego continued to control the period, the speed of the game
slowed down as did the scoring chances. Oswego finally broke through
and again it was thanks to a power play, this time a high sticking on
Jesse Adair with a few minutes to go in the period.
Like the first goal, Oswego needed a bounce in their favor. Francois
Gagnon from up top of the right faceoff circle. It hit some bodies on
the way in, while slowing down a few players whiffed at it. Amongst all
this commotion, Moore seemed to lose sight of the puck, and it trickled
past him.
“I thought we played well the first two periods,” Gosek said. “I
thought we got sloppy in the third. I thought the first two periods we
played hard, got the puck to the net, guys were finishing checks.”
Oswego appeared to take the third period for granted, and this opened up
opportunities for Buffalo State.
“I could sense it on the bench,” Gosek said. “They were getting tight.
They started making decisions that they normally wouldn’t. Hopefully,
tonight will help.”
Four minutes in, a bizarre opportunity enabled the Bengals to get back
into the game.
Joe Curry picked up the puck in the corner to the right of Scott. Curry
simply flung it towards the net. It appeared to get hung up in Scott’s
padding and then dropped into the net.
An Oswego penalty shortly afterwards gave Buffalo State more life, but
they were unable to take advantage of the momentum. However, Buffalo
State still applied pressure. At the eight minute mark of the third,
during a scramble in the crease, the Bengals nearly tied the game, but
Scott was able to swipe the puck away from the line.
Then, the quick 50 second outburst, and just as quickly the scoring stopped.
Oswego (5-3-1, 5-1-0) stays home to face Fredonia who beat Cortland, 6-2.
Buffalo State (2-7-2, 1-3-2) travels south on I-81 to go up against
Cortland.
