This Saturday, the Cortland Red Dragons improved to 20-6 on the season after their thrilling double-overtime game versus the third-seeded Oswego Lakers. Junior, Jillian Hlasnick scored the game winning goal nine minutes into the second 20-minute overtime, earning her team the 2-1 victory in the Northeast Women’s Hockey League (NEWHL) Semifinals.
The Red Dragons will now face top-seeded Plattsburgh Cardinals on the road next Saturday for the conference championship game.
“We want to prove something by winning our first NEWHL championship in program history,” Hlasnick said.
Sophomore Beth McArthur gave the Red Dragons a 1-0 lead in the first period of the game. For her second goal of the season, McArthur received the puck in the high slot from graduate student, Quinn Metcalfe. McArthur then wristed a shot through the defense, past Oswego’s sophomore goalie, Lexi Levy.
During the second period of the game, Cortland continued to outshoot Oswego 17-5, but both defenses stepped up, leaving the second-period scoreless. Both teams had powerplay opportunities but couldn’t get the job done. Oswego had two shots against sophomore goalie Molly Goergen, during their powerplay while Cortland had a total of four shots against Levy during their two powerplays.
Oswego caught a break when Junior Rachell Corbett scored her third goal of the season for Oswego, tying the game two minutes and 30 seconds into the third period. Corbett made this possible after a pass from senior Taylor Hudon deflected off Corbett’s skate and slid past Goergen into the net.
Both, Goergen and Levy, played outstanding roles during this game, making key saves and sending their teams to overtime. Overall, Levy registered a total of 61 saves and Goergen registered 24 saves.
“During this game, the nerves were a little bit more noticeable,” Goergen said. “I kept telling myself it’s just another game and to treat it like no matter the outcome, it will be okay.”
In the first extra 20-minute overtime, Cortland kept their pressure on Oswego’s defense and held a 15-4 shot advantage. Almost ten minutes in, the Red Dragons had a powerplay with three shots on goal but was eventually killed off by Oswego. With only 41 seconds remaining, a breakaway from Oswego senior Morgan Shines, was close to ending the game in their favor, but the shot went over the net.
Entering the second overtime, both teams had powerplay chances, but they failed to execute. The Red Dragons came on top with the victory just nine minutes and one second in, when sophomore Mia Hlasnick carried the puck down the ice and put a shot toward goal. The shot was then deflected, and Mia’s sister, Jillian Hlasnick saw the opportunity, tapping the puck over the goal line past Levy for the 2-1 victory.
“Scoring in such an important game like that in the second overtime is something I feel every athlete dreams about,” Jillian Hlasnick said. “It has always been a battle every time we play Oswego, so for a playoff game to end in an exciting fashion like that just shows how even our teams are. I will never forget that moment and how grateful I am to have shared it with my teammates.”
Cortland will be facing off their well-known rivals, SUNY Plattsburgh, for a fourth time this season to determine who will be the NEWHL conference champions. Back in December, the Red Dragons were the first team to ever beat Plattsburgh in a conference game in over 74 contests. They will be heading to Plattsburgh March 4 at 3 p.m.
“After an exciting win like that, we certainly have a lot of confidence and momentum going into this weekend’s game against Plattsburgh,” Jillian Hlasnick said. “To prepare this week, we just have to practice with high energy and confidence that will lead into the weekend.”