The Oswego State women's ice hockey team extended its win streak to five games with a 3-2 victory at Neumann University on Saturday afternoon. With the triumph, the Lakers go to 7-2-0 overall and 5-1-0 in ECAC West action while the Knights fall to 1-9-1, 1-7-0.
Bridget Smith, who has four of the Lakers' five wins during their current streak, was spectacular yet again, stopping 34 shots to improve her season mark to 4-1.
The senior got help from her offense, led by a trio of freshman, who put up all three of the Oswego goals. Trailing Neumann 1-0 midway through the first period, freshman Rachel Lenard was assisted by sophomore teammate Kendall Appelbaum for the equalizer at 16:45.
Lenard's goal was the beginning of a three-straight goal stretch for the Lakers, with the next tally coming just minutes after. Kelly Fox of the Knights was whistled for tripping with 48 seconds remaining in the opening period, and freshman Brianna Rice cashed in on the extra-man opportunity. Sophomore classmates Alli Ullrich and Erika Truschke set-up Rice for a goal at 19:49.
After a relatively quiet 15 minutes to start the second period, Olivia Ellis made it 3-1 with the eventual game-winning goal at 16:25. This time, Appelbaum and Lenard teamed up as distributors, gaining an assist apiece on the goal. Neumann would notch a score a little over one minute later but Smith and the Laker defense held for the final 2:30 to secure the win.
The Oswego penalty-kill unit was solid for the second-straight day, keeping the Knights off the scoreboard on two chances, bringing the weekend series total to 0-for-4.
Oswego will now be on a break until the New Year when it picks up again at 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 9 against Plymouth State University in the St. Michael's Doubletree Ice Hockey Classic.
