FREDONIA, N.Y. -- This Friday, Fredonia State will send its men's and women's basketball teams and its hockey team to Buffalo State for a trio of SUNYAC matchups. The teams will look to earn points to win the traveling trophy, the Lake Erie Cup. Each time the two rival schools compete in any sport, points are earned. The school with the most points at the end of the year takes home the trophy.
Last academic year, the two schools tied with 16 points apiece. In 2020-2021, there were no games due to Covid. The Cup currently resides in the Buffalo State Athletic Department based on its 2019-2020 win, 14-11.
The Cup was established in 2014-2015, and Fredonia State owns the overall series lead, 4-2, with one tie.
Women's basketball will kick things off at 5:30, with the men to follow, at approximately 7:30. The hockey teams drop the puck at 7 p.m. Buffalo State is clinging to a slim 6-5 lead so far this year. Men's and women's cross country, soccer and women's volleyball have completed their contests. Fredonia State hockey also defeated Buffalo State, 5-3, earlier this season. The basketball teams meet again on Feb. 4th in Fredonia.
Here is a link to current and past standings.
Background:
Established for the 2014-15 season, the "Battle by the Lake" is a season-long "all sports" competition between Buffalo State and Fredonia State. Each sport in which the two schools compete is worth two points annually. In sports which meet once per regular season, each game is worth two points and ties are worth one point. In sports that play twice during the regular season (softball, men's hockey and men's and women's basketball), each game will be worth one point, and ties will be worth one point. In the sports of cross country, swimming & diving, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field, the team that finishes higher at the SUNYAC Championship meet will earn two points for its school. The school with the most points at the end of the season will earn the Lake Erie Cup and keep the cup on its campus for the following year. (Non-conference and post-season matchups will not count toward the Lake Erie Cup competition).
