Buffalo State will open its 2015-16 season under first-year head coach Steve Murphy this Friday at home with some added meaning on the line, as the game will be part of the season long all sports competition between Buffalo State and Fredonia.  The Bengals and Blue Devils will face off at 7 p.m.
 
Buffalo State finished 12-12-3 overall and advanced to the SUNYAC semifinals for the third-consecutive year last season with a roster that did not have a single senior. 
 
Murphy announced his captains today, naming senior Brett Hope (Blenheim, ON/Blenheim) team captain, while senior Todd Graham (Melbourne, Australia) and Nick Schiro (Sanborn/Niagara-Wheatfield) will serve as assistant captains on the road, and junior Taylor Pryce (Newmarket, ON/Cardinal Carter) and sophomore Brody Power (Toronto, ON/Upper Canada College) will be assistant captains at home.
 
Senior forward Ryan Salkeld (Virginia Beach, VA/Churchland) returns as the team's leading scorer from a year ago, tallying 14 goals and 29 points in 27 games, while Jason Zaleski (Scranton, PA/Scranton) had 13 goals and 25 points in 25 games.  The goaltending tandem of Mike DeLaVergne (Pawling/Pawling) and Ian Sylves (Sloan/JFK) also return.  DeLavergne posted a .917 save percentage with a 3.06 GAA in 13 games, while Sylves had a 3.92 GAA with a .891 save percentage in 15 games.
 
The "Battle by the Lake" competition was created last season to enhance the rivalry between the two schools that share proximity to Lake Erie.  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 a 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 postseason matchups will not count toward the Lake Erie Cup competition).
 
Fredonia claimed the inaugural Lake Erie Cup by an 18-14 margin, but Buffalo State leads this season, 4-2.  For this year's full "Battle by the Lake" schedule, CLICK HERE.