OSWEGO, NY – Katie Diem (Fairport/Niagara University) scored the game-tying goal with 1:21 remaining in the third period, as the nationally ninth-ranked Cortland women's hockey team skated to a 2-2 tied with nationally fourth-ranked Oswego on Friday evening. The Lakers clinched the SUNYAC regular-season title by earning a point, and the Red Dragons will be the third seed in the conference tournament, traveling to Plattsburgh for a semifinal matchup next Saturday.
 
Diem netted her third goal of the season for Cortland, while Drew Kopek (Rome/Syracuse Valley Eagles) scored for the 11th time this season to lead the team. Gillian Zwolak (Stoney Creek, ON/Ancaster Avalanche), McKenzie Brown (Peru/Lovell Academy), and Katie Mahoney (Toronto, ON/Toronto Leaside) each provided an assist. Molly Goergen (Eden Prairie, MN/Eden Prairie H.S.) stopped 24 shots in goal for the Red Dragons.
 
Mack Hull and Simone Bednarik each scored a goal for the Lakers, while Lexi Levy made 21 saves.
 
Oswego had the best chance of the opening minutes, as a shot by the Lakers 7:30 into the contest was saved by Goergen off of the left post.
 
Cortland struck first to take the lead 9:26 into the period. Zwolak skated down the left side in the Oswego defensive zone, and sent a cross-ice feed to the front of the goal to Kopek, who knocked in a shot at close range off of an Oswego defender and into the left corner of the net.
 
The lead was short-lived for the Red Dragons, as the Lakers netted a goal on a breakaway just 41 seconds later.
 
The score remained 1-1 into the first intermission, with the teams each having eight shots on goal, and each goaltender making seven stops.
 
Oswego took the lead with 4:06 remaining in the second period, as a shot from the left point was deflected by Hull past Goergen. The Lakers had a 10-6 advantage in shot attempts for the period, and led 2-1 at the intermission.
 
Cortland was able to tie the game late in the third period, as Diem was able to connect with a loose puck in front of goal after having her initial shot saved.
 
The Red Dragons needed a regulation win to give themselves a shot at the SUNYAC regular-season title, and nearly netted a game-winner as time was winding down, but Mahoney had her shot saved expertly by Levy from in front of goal with seven seconds remaining.
 
The overtime point gained by Oswego secured the top seed and conference regular-season, but the Red Dragons needed a overtime victory to have a chance at a home semifinal game. Each team had one shot attempt in the overtime period, but neither team could find a winner.  

Score by periods
Cortland                  1-0-1-0          2
Oswego                    1-1-0-0          2

Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists):
Cortland: Katie Diem 1-0, Drew Kopek 1-0, McKenzie Brown 0-1, Katie Mahoney 0-1, Gillian Zwolak 0-1
Oswego: Mack Hull 1-0, Simone Bednarik 1-0, Rylee Preston 0-1, Rachel Corbett 0-1, Lauren Schell 0-1

Saves: Molly Goergen (Cortland) 24 saves (2 GA in 60:00); Lexi Levy (Oswego) 21 saves (2 GA in 60:00)

Shots on goal: Cortland 23 (8-6-8-1), Oswego 26 (8-10-7-1)
Penalties: Cortland none; Oswego none

Records after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 17-3-4, 12-3-2 SUNYAC (ranked ninth nationally in Div. III), Oswego (Lakers) 20-2-2, 14-1-2 SUNYAC (ranked fourth nationally in Div. III)