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For the second night in a row, David Titanic (Jr., Markham, Ontario) provided a big lift for the No. 4/6 Oswego State men's ice hockey team (17-3-0, 10-1-0 SUNYAC) with a pivotal goal.
However, this time it came at the end of a game to break a stalemate as the Lakers held off No. 15 Geneseo (13-6-1, 9-2-1 SUNYAC), 4-3, Saturday night at the Campus Center Ice Arena.
Geneseo picked up right where it left off offensively after a 10-3 win at Cortland when Kaz Iwamoto fed Corbin Rosmarin from near the goal line for a one-timer at the right faceoff dot that beat Oswego State goalie Andrew Hare (Sr., Burlington, Ontario) glove-side at 1:01.
The Blue Knights were whistled for interference at 9:58 followed by a tripping penalty to give the Lakers a two-man advantage for 45 seconds midway through the first period. Oswego State won the ensuing faceoff allowing Chris Ayotte (Sr., Cornwall, Ontario) to fake the one-timer before feeding Jesse McConney (Sr., Barrie, Ontario), who rocketed a pass to Paul Rodrigues (Sr., Etobicoke, Ontario). Rodrigues then blasted a one-timer from the left dot over Geneseo goalie Adrien Rubeniuk's left shoulder into the back of the net to even the score at 1-1.
However, the Blue Knights took a 2-1 advantage into the locker room after Carson Schell got an on-ice shot past Hare with 58 seconds remaining in the first period that saw Geneseo out-shoot the Lakers, 9-3.
Oswego State came out with renewed tenacity in the second period that helped the Lakers tie the game a second time. Zach Josepher (Sr., Wantagh, N.Y.) scored his seventh goal of the season when he trailed a breakaway led by Tyler Leimbrock (Sr., Bolton, Ontario) up the near boards. Josepher one-touched a pass past Rubeniuk for his first marker since Nov. 30 against Potsdam. Taylor Farris (Sr., Oakville, Ontario) was also awarded a helper on the goal at 6:21 in the second.
Oswego State took its first lead of the game at the nine-minute mark when Luke Moodie (Sr., Oakville, Ontario) sent a laser through the crease from the far side boards that ricocheted off of Jon Whitelaw's (Sr., Huntsville, Ontario) skate and between Rubeniuk's legs. Paul Rodrigues (Sr., Etobicoke, Ontario) also earned his 22nd assist of the season.
Geneseo started gaining momentum during the third period, and culminated in a Laker holding penalty that allowed the Blue Knights to tie the game. Tyler Brickler swatted at a loose puck in front of the net that went off the post on to the tape of Rosmarin's stick for a rebound goal that bounced off of the back of Hare's leg at 12:32.
The deadlock did not last long though as less than two minutes later, David Titanic (Jr., Markham, Ontario) grabbed momentum back from the visitors when he spun around at the top of the left faceoff circle and ripped a slap shot that clanged off the crossbar and into the net at 15:16.
Geneseo pulled Rubeniuk with a minute to go before play was stopped with 47.6 seconds after the Laker defense kept the puck along the boards behind the goal. The Blue Knights called timeout, but Geneseo was unable to put a shot on goal before the puck was cleared the length of the ice.
Oswego State was out-shot 26-18 by the visitors, but the Laker defense clamped down when needed. Hare tallied 23 saves, while Rubeniuk finished with 14, including seven in the third.
Oswego State plays its final home game of the regular season next Friday, Feb. 1, against Morrisville when it honors the program's 14 seniors. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m.
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