OSWEGO, N.Y. – Ben Waldman scored an overtime goal as Fredonia State defeated No. 1 ranked Oswego, 2-1, to advance to the SUNYAC championship game next Saturday.
Waldman skated up the middle of the ice while Mat Hehr carried the puck behind the Oswego net. Hehr's pass found Waldman all alone and his quick shot beat goalkeeper Paul Beckwith at 11:34 of the overtime.
It was Waldman's fourth goal of the playoffs. He had three goals Wednesday in a 3-2 victory at Buffalo State. It was also Hehr's second assist of the game. Mitch Kulikoski also assisted on the winning goal.
Fredonia State will travel to Plattsburgh next Saturday for the SUNYAC championship and the NCAA Division III automatic qualifier. The Cardinals won in overtime, 3-2, at Geneseo in the other SUNYAC semifinal Saturday night..
Both goaltenders played strong, and at times brilliantly, in the semifinal at Oswego. Fredonia State's Mark Friesen finished with 43 saves. Beckwith stopped 35 shots.
The Blue Devils took a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal by Alex Morton at 6:08 of the first period. Assisted by Hehr, Morton's shot from the right faceoff circle fluttered through the legs of Beckwith.
Friesen robbed Oswego's Dan Bremner late in the period. Bremner tried to score on a backhander to the right of the net, but Friesen deflected the puck away. It was the best chance by the Lakers, who took the body throughout the period and made several thunderous checks.
Oswego evened the score at 1-1 at 8:50 of the second period. With the Lakers on the forecheck, the Blue Devils turned the puck over. Luke Moodie took advantage of the mistake with a shot and goal from the right wing after receiving a pass from Paul Rodrigues.
Friesen was brilliant in the third period. He made several spectacular saves, including one to rob Owen Kelly on the doorstep and another during an Oswego power play. The Blue Devils killed all three Oswego power-play chances in the game.
The Blue Devils (14-12-1), the No. 6 seed at the start of the SUNYAC Tournament, while the Lakers (22-4-0) were the No. 1 seed. They had beaten the Blue Devils eight straight times, including twice this season, prior to Saturday's game.
