OSWEGO, N.Y. – When the average Oswego State student hears about Whiteout Weekend, they think about the men's ice hockey team doing battle with Plattsburgh. However this year, both the men's and women's basketball team will be participating, as they also host Plattsburgh and Potsdam as part of a six-game extravaganza. All of Oswego State's games against Plattsburgh and Potsdam as part of Whiteout Weekend are the Games of the Week.

Combined between all three teams, the Lakers went 10-2-1 against Plattsburgh and Potsdam last season. The men's ice hockey team (7-0-0, 6-0-0 SUNYAC) played to a 2-2 tie in its first meeting with the Cardinals before outdueling them in a 3-0 win later in the regular season before losing in the SUNYAC Championship game, 3-2. The men's basketball team (4-0) swept all four games versus Plattsburgh and Potsdam en route to a perfect 18-0 SUNYAC record last year.

The women's basketball team (3-1) defeated Plattsburgh by 10 points in the first meeting, but suffered its third-worst defeat of the season in an 81-58 loss to the Cardinals on Jan. 27. In the end, the Lakers edged the Cardinals for the No. 6 spot in the SUNYAC playoffs after also sweeping Potsdam, which will be the final postseason spot in this year's revamped playoff system.
 
Men's Ice Hockey

The men's ice hockey team is familiar with the Whiteout Weekend and the blanket of fans sporting all white that it brings. Senior Paul Rodrigues (Etobicoke, Ontario), the nation's leading point scorer (20), remembers his first Whiteout Weekend in a Laker sweater back in 2010.

“I remember before the Potsdam game, I had trouble sleeping,” Rodrigues said. “Before the Plattsburgh game, I got really, really excited and I couldn't sleep at all. There's a lot of hype around it and the experience is unbelievable. The fans were all there for warm-ups.”

In that game, the Lakers beat the Cardinals 3-2. It was the first time Oswego State bested its conference rival in the Campus Center Ice Arena and the second of three wins against the Cardinals during the 2009-10 season. The Lakers also ousted Potsdam, 5-1, the night before. Oswego State has swept Whiteout Weekend the past two years, making it six straight wins for the Lakers during the most-hyped weekend of the year.

Thus far this season, the Lakers are 7-0, having moved to No. 1 in the country after starting the season at No. 2. Senior Luke Moodie (Oakville, Ontario), the nation's second-best point scorer (19), invites the added expectations that being ranked No. 1 comes with.

”I think being No. 1 is something we want,” Moodie said. “We want that added pressure. If we lose, we'll lose that spot. We go in and try to win every single game and hold that spot.”

With most of the hype surrounding Plattsburgh, some would think the Lakers overlook Potsdam, but Rodrigues says that is not the case.

“All week we'll be focusing on Potsdam,” Rodrigues said. “Once Saturday morning rolls around, we'll be focused in on what we have to do against Plattsburgh. We've played them enough to understand what's to be expected. If we don't get the two points (a win) against Potsdam, what the Plattsburgh game really going to mean?”

Oswego State will need the full week to prepare for Potsdam. The Bears played the Cardinals tight in a 6-4 loss on Nov. 3 and beat Buffalo State by the same score the Lakers did, 5-4.

For the first time in Whiteout Weekend history, both basketball teams will be a part of the action. Fans are encouraged to wear all white as they attend the four basketball games during the weekend slate.

Both basketball teams sit at 3-0, as the men and women each claimed the Max Ziel Tournament Title with four double-digit victories.

Men's Basketball

The Oswego State men's basketball team (3-0) is coming off a 26-4 season, where it won 17-straight games and made it all the way to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, capturing a SUNYAC Championship along the way.

Senior captain Sean Michele (East Rochester, N.Y.) says he's happy to be a part of the event.

“We're excited to have the fans come out and show their support dressed in white,” Michele said. “It should be a fun experience for the SUNYAC this weekend.”

However, Michele knows the first two conference games of the season may very well set the tone for the season's SUNYAC schedule. He says it'll be a daunting challenge to match the Lakers' unblemished 18-0 SUNYAC record from last year.

“The SUNYAC is a battle,” Michele said. “One through 10, every game is tough. We know that Plattsburgh and Potsdam always give us tough games. They've both played tough opponents. They both have a ton of returners, big bodies and are very athletic.”

Last season, the Lakers beat the Bears by a combined 35 points in two double-digit wins. However, both Plattsburgh games came down to the end, with the Lakers squeaking out single-digit victories in each contest.

So far this season, Plattsburgh has defeated St. Lawrence by 16 points, a team which was one of only four to beat the Lakers in 2011-12. The Cardinals also pushed the No. 4 team in the nation, Middlebury, to an 80-73 game, in which the Cardinals led at halftime.

Potsdam is coming off a 77-65 win over Clarkson, in which leading scorer Mark Lake, Jr. dropped 23 points. The Bears are 1-2 on the year, but have a matchup with Cortland on Friday before they play Oswego State on Sunday.

 
Women's Basketball

The Oswego State women's basketball team is coming off a 12-14 season in which it qualified for the postseason, but lost in the first round of the SUNYAC playoffs to Oneonta. The Lakers have made a statement with their defense thus far this season.

Oswego State has only allowed 109 points in three double-digit wins this season, while scoring 177 points of its own. The Lakers have the best scoring defense in the conference, only allowing 36.9 points per game which is more than eight points better than anyone else.

Potsdam and Plattsburgh are on the other end of the spectrum, sporting the eighth- and ninth-best defenses in the 10-team conference, respectively. However, Plattsburgh has the third best offense in the conference, averaging 67.3 points per outing en route to a 2-1 record.

Senior captain Meagan Stover (Lake George, N.Y.), who is leading the team with 16.3 points per contest is coming off a 22-point performance against Hamilton, which tied her career high. She has not forgotten Plattsburgh's 23-point triumph over Oswego State last season.

“That game did not turn out the way we hoped,” Stover said.

Stover has a good feeling about the team's chances against the conference foes.

“I have very high expectations going into the weekend,” Stover said. “These are teams we like to start our season off with, and show how good we can be this year.”

She points to good habits in practice and great relationships off the court as key contributors to the team's success.

“We have very good competition chemistry,” Stover said. “Once we get in practice, we kill each other and go at each other. You can't be buddy-buddy. It hasn't worked for us in the past couple seasons. This year, we're at each other's throats and off the court, we're best friends.”

Stover says she likes having basketball coupled with ice hockey for Whiteout Weekend, which gives all fans the chance to support Laker athletics.

“It's cool to be a part of it and have it be about more than one sport,” Stover said. “There's more hype around the game. The crowd's coming, and seeing them all in white is going to pump us up.”
 
Weekend Schedule
Friday:
Women's Basketball vs. Plattsburgh, 6 p.m.         Men's Hockey vs. Potsdam, 7 p.m.         
Men's Basketball vs. Plattsburgh, 8 p.m.
Saturday:
Women's Basketball vs. Potsdam, 2 p.m.              Men's Basketball vs. Potsdam, 4 p.m.
Men's Ice Hockey vs. Plattsburgh, 7 p.m.