The Oswego State women`s ice hockey team completed the weekend sweep of Utica College with a gritty 2-1 win over the Pioneers on Sunday afternoon in the Campus Center Ice Arena. Oswego`s 2-0 weekend has large implications on ECAC West standings as the Lakers now sit four points ahead of Potsdam with one weekend left in the regular season.
The women currently sit in third place with 21 points as Plattsburgh and Elmira are in a tie for first with 26 points apiece.
Against the Pioneers on Sunday, Oswego was again powered by Melissa Seamont, as the senior scored both of the Lakers' goals for the second-straight day. After scoring two shorthanded goals on Saturday to push Oswego past Utica on the Pioneers' home ice, Seamont scored an even strength goal in the 14th minute of the first period to knot the score at 1-1 before nailing the game-winner on a power-play at 9:33 of the final period.
Seamont's first goal at 14:30 of the first came on passes from fellow seniors Emma Smetaniuk and Olivia Boersen. The three classmates connected again for the game-winning goal as Oswego took advantage of Utica being whistled for elbowing just 56 seconds prior.
Nothing was more impressive than Bridget Smith's performance in net for the Lakers, especially the final 3.5 seconds. The junior stopped a shot that came with Utica breaking on a 2-on-1 situation after the Pioneers had pulled their goalie for the last minute. Utica would win a faceoff in Oswego's zone and got two shots off in the final three ticks, with Smith turning the first away with her knee before stuffing a Pioneer attempt by the post as the buzzer sounded.
The goalie finished the day with 28 saves, earning the victory between the pipes for the second-straight day.
Oswego will return to action at 7 p.m. on Friday when No. 1 Plattsburgh comes to town for a two-game weekend series. The squads will face off against at 3 p.m. on Saturday for the regular season finale and Senior Day as Oswego will recognize its nine seniors after the contest.
