Box Score Score: Oswego State 7- Elmira College 1
Records: Oswego (1-0-0), Elmira (0-1-0)
Location: Marano Campus Center Arena – Oswego, N.Y.
 
OSWEGO, N.Y. -- It was a challenging night to say the least for the Elmira College men's ice hockey team, which suffered a 7-1 season-opening loss on the road to Oswego State. Rookie forward Matthew Cuce '20 scored Elmira's lone goal in the third period, while Tyler Theodoulou '18 was credited with an assist on the score.
 
Oswego put the pressure on Elmira early in the first period, outshooting the Soaring Eagles 14-to-6. Despite the lopsided shot total, Elmira had its chances with a pair of power plays that yielded several scoring opportunities. However, it would be the Oswego penalty killers that would break through for the game's first score.
 
Kenny Neil opened the game's scoring with a shorthanded tally at 11:59 to give the Lakers a 1-0 first-period lead. Neil scored on a two-on-one rush, one that saw Alex Botten dump a pass to Neil in the slot, before he deked twice and backhanded the puck past a sprawled out Sal Magliocco '17.
 
Botten and Neil connected for the Lakers' second goal of the game just two minutes later, this one even strength, as Oswego tightened its grip on the contest. Botten knocked in the score, while Neil and fellow senior Shawn Hulshof were credited with assists.
 
Oswego nearly built its lead to three in the opening stanza, but the Lakers had their goal removed from the scoreboard due to goalie interference. With the no-goal call, Elmira skated into the first intermission with a two-goal deficit.
 
The Lakers' near score was a sign of things to come though, as Jody Sullivan scored on a rush just 1:55 into the second period. Sullivan's goal was setup by Matt Galati and Andrew Barton.  A little over nine minutes later, Oswego's Aaron Huffnagle increased the Laker lead to four, which closed out the period's scoring.
 
Oswego struck for two goals in the first 8:41 of the third period to take a commanding 6-0 lead.
 
Elmira was finally able to break through in the final 1:55 of the contest, when Matthew Cuce scored his first collegiate goal, shorthanded. Tyler Theodoulou set up the goal on a sleek cross-ice pass from the left crease that found Cuce in the slot, allowing him to bury a wrister for the score.
 
With the game coming to a close, Oswego scored its seventh goal of the night on a precise slap shot from Barton that went bar-down. The Barton score wrapped up the night's action, as the Lakers skated away with a 7-1 victory.
 
Turning Point
Play on special teams was the ultimate factor in today's outcome. Elmira had plenty of chances with the extra skater tonight, but the Soaring Eagles struggled to find the back of the net. EC went 0-for-6 on power-play opportunities, including a 0-for-3 mark in the second period. Oswego, on the other hand, converted on 3-of-7 chances.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Oswego more than doubled Elmira's shot total, 39-18.
• Oswego went 3-for-7 on power-play chances, while Elmira was 0-for-6.
• EC was whistled for eight penalties and 27 penalty minutes.
• Oswego was called for eight infractions, totaling 24 penalty minutes.
• Cuce scored shorthanded with 1:55 remaining in the third period.
• Theodoulou was credited with the assist on EC's lone goal.
• Magliocco finished with 32 saves, logging 12 in both the first and third periods.

 
News and Notes

• Cuce scored the first goal of his collegiate career.
• Theodoulou picked his first assist of the season.
• Theodoulou extended his point streak to four games, a mark that dates back to last season.
• Elmira plays in its home opener tomorrow night against the Lakers at 7:00 p.m.

 
Up Next
Elmira will face the Lakers once again tomorrow night, when the Soaring Eagles welcome Oswego to the Murray Athletic Center for a 7:00 p.m. non-league contest.