LAKE PLACID, N.Y. --- Although Norwich University and Oswego State University have each played in the last four NCAA division III men’s ice hockey Frozen Fours, they had never squared off against each other in those four years.  That was until Friday night, March 15, when the Cadets (24-3-1) took on the Lakers (24-4-0) in game one of the NCAA semi-finals being held in Lake Placid, N.Y.

Third ranked Oswego, looking to claim their second national championship crown since 2007, traded the game’s first goal for a four goal, third period en route to a 6-3 win.

Norwich, who last won the NCAA title in 2010, jumped on the board first on senior Pier-Olivier Cotnoir’s goal just 20-seconds into the first period.  If this sounds familiar, it should. In last year’s championship game against St. Norbert, the Laker’s gave up the game’s first goal just 17 seconds after the opening face-off. They went on to lose that game 4-1.

Friday night, Oswego managed to bounce back two minutes, 58 seconds later when Player of the Year Paul Rodrigues tied the score at 1-apiece.

The second ranked Cadets re-took the lead with 8:06 played in the second period on senior Kyle Thomas’ goal, only to see Oswego bounce back again and tie the score at 2-2, 1:23 later, when sophomore Chris Carr found the net.

Oswego’s second ranked offense took control in the third period.  Senior Chris Muise scored the period’s first goal, with 6:14 played, giving the Lakers a 3-2, lead and final goal, an empty netter, with 51 seconds left. Senior teammates Tyler Leimbrock and Matt Singleton also added third period goals for Oswego.  Leimbrock netted his goal at the 12:04 mark, while Singleton scored just 1:43 later, giving his team a 5-2 lead.

Sophomore Corey Hale tallied Norwich’s lone third period goal with 2:51 remaining.

Andrew Hare stopped 24 shots in the win, while Chris Czarnota had 28 saves in the loss.

Oswego now awaits the winner of tonight’s second semifinal, pitting number seven Utica College (25-5-1) against fourth ranked Wisconsin-Eau Claire (22-5-2).  Both teams are making their Frozen Four debut.

Tomorrow’s championship game is slated to 7 p.m. in the famed Olympic center’s 1980 Rink Herb Brooks Arena.  Tickets remain on sale and are available on-line by visiting http://purchase.tickets.com/, by calling the Olympic center box office, 518-523-3330, or by stopping by the center’s box office, 2634 Main St., Lake Placid. The NCAA division III men’s ice hockey national championship will also be streamed live on-line on NCAA.Com.

-- ORDA --

Established in 1982, the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) was created by the State of New York to manage the facilities used during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid. ORDA operates Whiteface, Belleayre and Gore Mountain ski areas; the Olympic Sports Complex at Mt. Van Hoevenberg; the Olympic speed skating oval, Olympic jumping complex and Olympic arena. As host to international and national championships, the Authority has brought millions of athletes, spectator and participants to the region, resulting in significant economic development.