BUFFALO, NY—Nick Melligan (Sanborn, NY/Niagara-Wheatfield)netted a hat trick and gave host Buffalo State (0-1/0-1) a 3-0 lead over visiting Oswego (1-0/1-0), but the nationally No. 3-ranked Lakers roared back for a 4-3 victory in tonight’s SUNYAC season opener at the Ice Arena.
Melligan opened the scoring with the only goal of the first period with assists from Ben Kramer (Great Neck, NY/Great Neck South) andTaylor Pryce (Newmarket, ON/Cardinal Carter).
The Lakers bunched three penalties close together in the opening minutes of the second frame, and Melligan made them pay. The junior forward capitalized on a pair of 5-on-3 power plays, scoring two goals just 45 seconds apart to push the advantage to 3-0. Brett Hope (Blenheim, ON/Blenheim) assisted on both goals, and Kramer andRyan Salkeld (Virginia Beach, VA/Churchland) also drew assists.
Buffalo State found itself in penalty trouble moments later, however, taking overlapping major penalties with another minor mixed in, and the Lakers scored twice 1:16 apart. Chris Carr scored first at 6:46, before Kenny Neil netted his first of two in the game at 8:02. Bobby Gertsakis then evened the score for the Lakers with just over a minute remaining in the middle frame.
The Bengals earned the only power play chance in the third period, but could not capitalize. The game appeared destined for overtime as chances were at a premium, but Neil took a back-door pass from Shawn Hulshof and fired it home with just 44 seconds remaining to lift Oswego to the victory.
Both teams finished 2 for 5 on the power play, and Oswego doubled up Buffalo State in shots, 38-19. Sophomore Mike DeLaVergne (Pawling, NY/Pawling) made 34 saves for the Bengals in his first collegiate start. Justin Gilbert earned the win in the pipes for the Lakers, stopping all 10 shots he faced after relieving Matt Zawadzki, who allowed three goals on nine shots.
Buffalo State will look to bounce back tomorrow night at the Ice Arena when it hosts Cortland at 7 p.m.
