OSWEGO, N.Y. – The Oswego State women's soccer team was 6-1-0 last season when it traveled to Oneonta and the course of the season was changed in a 2-1 double-overtime loss. This season's rematch and conference opener against Oneonta on Friday at 4 p.m. is the Oswego State Game of the Week.

Last season, the Lakers took a 1-0 lead in their conference opener against Oneonta just over two minutes into the game. However, goals late in the second half and the second overtime gave the Red Dragons the 2-1 triumph. The heartbreak of the loss carried into the next game, as Oswego State fell 3-0 to New Paltz, who it tied a season earlier.

The Lakers went 2-5-0 in their seven games following the loss to Oneonta in 2011. Senior captain Shelly Bateman (Fulton, N.Y.) does not want the team to be affected like that again.

“We were devastated after the loss last year,” Bateman said. “We all wanted it so bad and the game was so close. It really opened our eyes to how good we could be.”

Heading into Friday's game, the Lakers are 3-2-0 with a convincing 4-1 win over D'Youville in their rearview mirror. Bateman says the team is a little different this season.

“We're a lot closer this year,” Bateman said. “We get along better off the field and girls on the bench are always cheering and yelling during games.”

Oneonta enters this year's contest with a 3-2-1 overall record, but like Oswego State, has yet to play a conference match-up. Oswego State has tallied 11 goals thus far, compared to just six for the Red Dragons.

Head coach Brian McGrane has yet to record a win over Oneonta during his tenure, but Bateman wants her fourth time to be the charm.

“We haven't beat them since about 1995,” Bateman said. “Our big rival is Cortland, but Oneonta is up there. If we beat them, people will notice us.”

A win against the Red Dragons would mean the team's first 1-0 start in the conference since 2006, when SUNYIT was still a member of the State University of New York Athletic Conference. The Lakers have not made the postseason since 2005.

Bateman wants a chance to compete in a playoff game at the collegiate level.

“It would mean a lot to our coach, the program and everyone,” Bateman said. “It would definitely be a new experience.”

The match-up against Oneonta kicks off a string of eight straight SUNYAC games for Oswego State. After last season's 2-7 conference record, the Lakers are looking to kick-start this year's conference schedule with a victory.