OSWEGO, N.Y. – For each of the last five seasons, the Oswego State men's tennis team (3-4) has entered its match against St. John Fisher (2-8, 1-2 Empire 8) full of confidence, only to have hopes dashed in devastating fashion. The Lakers will look to break the trend in today's match at Mendon Racquet Club in Rochester, N.Y., the most recent Oswego State Game of the Week.

“We haven't beaten them since 2007,” senior captain Brian Tosti (Clifton Park, N.Y.) said. “But we come into this match every time thinking we can beat them. We think that we're on par with them as a program. This year, we're coming in with the same mindset. We want to try to get up in doubles and take it to them. There are always little things that seem to go wrong when we play them, and hopefully this year, that's not the case.”

The Lakers are currently riding a two-match win streak, having picked up back-to-back wins against Daemen and Keuka. The Daemen men's tennis team is in its first year as a program, but the Wildcats proved they could play by winning their second match, 9-0. When Oswego State visited Daemen, the Wildcats were 3-7, having won two of their last three.

Ben Weiss (Jr., Baldwinsville, N.Y.) won the third set of his match at No. 4 singles to clinch a 5-4 victory for the Lakers. The most critical point of the match came at No. 2 doubles, when Tim Van Hine, Jr. (So., Apalachin, N.Y.) and Dillon Corbett (Sr., Honeoye Falls, N.Y.) erased a 7-3 deficit, saving three match points, before cruising through the tiebreaker, 7-0, to give Oswego State a 2-1 lead at the end of doubles play.

“It was one of the few times in my four years here that we've pulled out a win in a close match like that,” Tosti said. “It was really fun to be a part of. Personally, I lost, but I thought I played a good match. There were certain things I wish I did better, but it was really good to see everyone come together. Ben Weiss trying to finish up that third set was really good to see, we were all behind him.”

For Tosti, and fellow seniors Corbett, Ben Schleider (Washingtonville, N.Y.) and Sam Carges (Brockport, N.Y.), it was actually the first time they were part of a 5-4 win. Back in 2011-12, the Lakers came out on the losing end of a 5-4 decision against SUNY Cobleskill.

The last time the Lakers won 5-4, April, 17 2007, which marks the last time Oswego State triumphed against St. John Fisher.

A win over the Cardinals would be the third consecutive for Oswego State, and would put the Lakers at the .500 mark for the first time since mid-September, when they were 1-1.

“As a team, I know the guys want to finish above .500. We haven't done that in my time here. That would be a big step for the program,” Tosti said.

This spring, the Lakers are 2-1, having lost their first match of the second semester to Utica, 7-2. After struggling early in the Utica match, the Lakers pulled out two of the six singles matches. In the other four singles flights, Oswego State posted close results.

Tosti sees new confidence in his squad.

“Every match, we've been focused right off the get-go,” Tosti said. “Even in our losses, we've been focused all the time. In doubles, we've lost a couple, but we've pulled out some of the ones that have been very tight and that's helped us a lot.”

Having a team goal is important in any sport, but Tosti has goals for himself, too.

“Individually, maybe getting my head screwed on a little tighter,” he said. “There have been times when I've been unhinged and taken myself out of matches. I would like to work a little harder in late points to try and claw my way back into matches if need be.”

With tough matches against Oneonta and Roberts Wesleyan at the start of next week, the Lakers are looking to continue building confidence. Today's match against St. John Fisher has more worth than one win or loss for Oswego State.