#1 Hobart visits #5 Oswego State this Friday – December 5, 2025 (Photo by Spencer Tulis / Finger Lakes Times)
#1 Hobart Statesmen (8-0-0) @ #5 Oswego State Lakers (6-0-0)
Friday, December 5, 2025 – 7pm ET
Oswego leads all-time series 36-9-2
Week 6 of the NCAA Division III season features one of the biggest matchups of the year, as the #1 Hobart College Statesmen travel to Oswego, NY, to take on the #5-ranked Oswego State Lakers this Friday at 7 PM. While Oswego holds a commanding 36-9-2 lead in the all-time series, Hobart has shifted the momentum in recent years, winning six of the last eight meetings dating back to 2017. One of Oswego’s wins during that stretch was a 3-2 overtime victory in the 2023-24 season, one of only two losses Hobart suffered all year en route to their national championship. This matchup is also historic, marking the first time these two programs meet in a conference game as this is Hobart’s first season as a member of the SUNYAC. Both teams enter undefeated and ranked inside the top-5 making the stakes even higher at the Deborah F. Stanley Arena & Convocation Center.
For Hobart, the Statesmen have been the far and away team to beat for the past three seasons. Coming off three straight national championships and an incredible 94-5-2 record over that span, Hobart is looking to move to 9-0-0 and continue their push toward a rare four-peat (the last time this was achieved was by Head Coach Bill Beaney with Middlebury College as they won five-straight national championships from 1995-1999). Their dominance this season has been clear, winning games by an average margin of three goals. Their wins against Utica contributed to giving the Pioneers their first 0-4 start in program history, and Hobart has also taken down Elmira College, Skidmore, Plattsburgh, SUNY Potsdam, and SUNY Canton.
A major part of their success has been senior goaltender Damon Beaver. The Ontario native has been outstanding, recording two shutouts in five appearances (three starts). He has faced 74 shots and allowed only two goals, entering the weekend with a .72 GAA and a .960 save percentage. Beaver ranks top three nationally in every major goaltending category and has been named SUNYAC Men’s Hockey Goaltender of the Week in back-to-back weeks.
Oswego enters ranked #5 after jumping two spots to reach their highest position of the season. The Lakers have climbed in every poll since opening night. Their résumé includes wins over then-#5 Geneseo, Plattsburgh, Skidmore, and Canton, mirroring several Hobart opponents. Through six games, Oswego has outscored teams 18-6 and has not allowed more than two goals in any contest, picking up two shutouts along the way. The Lakers have been one of the toughest defensive groups in the nation this season.
Offensively, Oswego has showcased impressive depth, with 18 different skaters recording at least one point through their first six games. Senior defenseman Travis Baker leads the team with six points, including a three-assist performance against SUNY Brockport. In goal, Oswego has split starts evenly between Gavin McCarthy and Michael Manzi, with both playing 180 minutes. Fans should expect McCarthy in this matchup, as he has allowed fewer goals on more shots (2 GA on 94 saves), while also appearing in the bigger matchups of the two goaltenders thus far.
This weekend sets up an intriguing clash. Oswego holds the all-time edge, but recently Hobart has been the buzzsaw of Division III, cutting through elite opponents year after year. With strong defensive play on both sides and elite goaltending, this game may come down to whoever wins the final five minutes. For Hobart, keep an eye on forward Kahlil Fontana, who leads the nation in goals and remains one of the most dangerous scorers in the country.
Puck drop is set for 7 PM on Friday at the Deborah F. Stanley Arena & Convocation Center. Hobart aims to extend its recent dominance in the series, while Oswego looks to restore the historic balance and hand the nation’s top team their first loss of the season.
