Exciting weekend ahead for Lakers teams

This weekend will be an exciting time for both Nipissing University and the Nipissing Lakers.
For the university itself, Homecoming 2014 will be the big event around campus and throughout the city as current students, alumni, faculty and staff celebrate the institution and its history.

For Lakers Athletics, it’s the beginning of an extremely busy and exciting time, as the soccer programs head towards the end of their regular season, the hockey programs kick off their season and both volleyball and basketball are gearing up.

Things unofficially kick off with the Lakers women’s hockey team opening up their second OUA season Wednesday night in Waterloo as they face-off against the Warriors. On Thursday, they take on the always impressive Laurier Golden Hawks.

Saturday, both soccer teams are in action facing the RMC Paladins. The men handled RMC easily earlier in the year, winning 8-0 on the road while the women played to a 2-2 draw in Kingston. Both teams will be looking to begin their ascent up the standings Saturday.

On Sunday, both soccer teams will be back on the field, hosting the Queens Gaels. With both teams in the thick of the playoff hunt late in the season, every win and every point is important.

The men’s hockey team will open up their season Saturday night with their annual Pink Game, playing host the UOIT Ridgebacks.

Last season, the Lakers hosted the Ridgebacks during the Homecoming weekend and earned their first victory of the season in front of a loud, boisterous crowd that created an impressive atmosphere at Memorial Gardens. The team is hoping for the same kind of support and result this year.

The Lakers men’s hockey team will wrap up the first weekend of the season Sunday afternoon as they host the UQTR Patriotes.

The men’s basketball team is also in action this weekend, hosting Laurier and Canadore in a pair of exhibition games to prepare for their season, which opens in November.