The William Smith College ice hockey team rallied to defeat Oswego State 2-1 in a non-conference contest at The Cooler Tuesday. With the win, the Herons are now 5-12-1 this season.
Five different players recorded a point for William Smith in the victory. Annie Hauser started in goal and made a career-high 34 saves as she earned her first collegiate victory.
Chyne Kennedy scored for the Lakers (8-7-1). Bryn White started in goal and made 13 saves.
The first period was tightly contested with Oswego emerging with an 8-6 edge in shots on goal. At the 4:21 mark of the first period, Annabel Ziskin nearly opened the scoring, but her shot was stopped by White. The Lakers broke the deadlock at the 9:44 mark of the opening period. Kennedy banged home a rebound from the left faceoff circle for her fifth goal of the season. Ashlyn McGrath was credited with an assist on the tally after her initial shot was stopped by Hauser. Kennedy nearly doubled her total at the 16:40 mark of the frame, but Hauser made a brilliant glove save. William Smith almost tied the game in the closing minutes of the first period, but Mackenzie O’Neil’s shot from the point was turned aside by White.
Forty-two seconds into the second period. Emma Faso fired a shot from the high slot just wide. Tiffany Foster also had a shot from the point turned aside by White in the opening minute of the second period. William Smith netted the equalizer just over seven minutes into the second period. Lauren Legler redirected an Emily Martino shot from the point past White. The power-play tally was her second goal of the season. O’Neil was also credited with an assist on the goal.
Oswego pushed for the go-ahead goal but Hauser was up to the task as she made a series of impressive saves during the Lakers’ first power play of the game. The Lakers seemed to take momentum in the game as they outshot the Herons 11-5 in the middle period.
Kayla Ketchabaw scored the game-winning goal at the 1:59 mark of the third period. Ziskin notched the assist on the goal after starting the sequence in her own end of the ice. She dug the puck out of a board battle and hit Ketchabaw with an outlet pass along the Herons’ blueline. Ketchabaw took off down the right wing, deked around a defender and wristed a shot from the right faceoff circle past White. It was Ketchabaw’s first collegiate goal.
Oswego tried to turn the game back in its favor, finishing the third period with a 16-4 edge in shots on goal. In the middle portion of the period, Hauser stopped a pair of Amanda Zenstein slap shots to keep the Herons in the lead. With 1:33 left in regulation, Oswego pulled its goalie in favor of the extra attacker. Right off the draw, Zenstein fired a shot from the blue line that was stopped by Hauser. Kennedy fired a pair of shots just wide. The Lakers had one last chance, but Philomena Teggart’s shot was blocked by Alisa Canney.
Oswego finished the game with a 35-15 edge in shots on goal. William Smith was 1-for-3 on the power play and the Lakers were 0-for-3 with the extra attacker.
The Herons will be back in action on Friday, Jan. 28, when it resumes New England Hockey Conference play against Johnson and Wales. Faceoff with the Wildcats is scheduled for 7 p.m.
