The Hobart and William Smith Colleges basketball teams have joined Go4TheGoal in the fight against pediatric cancer. For this weekend's Liberty League games against Clarkson and St. Lawrence, the Statesmen and Herons will wear gold shoe laces to raise awareness for the cause.

Go4TheGoal's mission is to improve the lives of children battling cancer by providing financial support, developing and implementing unique hospital programs, funding innovative research, and granting personal wishes. Go4TheGoal's Lace Up 4 Pediatric Cancer initiative began in 2011 with youth soccer teams in New Jersey. Today, sports teams across the country from youth leagues to professional teams have laced up to support the fight against pediatric cancer.

According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 10,000 children 14-years-old or younger were diagnosed with cancer and more than 1,000 children died from the disease last year. Although pediatric cancer death rates have declined by nearly 70 percent over the past 40 years, cancer remains the leading cause of death from disease among children.

The Colleges host Clarkson tonight with the women's game tipping off at 6 p.m. followed by the men at 8 p.m. On Saturday, St. Lawrence will visit Bristol Gym with the Herons getting underway at 2 p.m. and the Statesmen at 4 p.m.

William Smith is 9-11 overall, 7-5 in the Liberty League. The Herons are in fifth place in the league standings, one game out of a playoff spot. All four of William Smith's remaining regular season games are against teams ahead of it in the standings. Saturday's game will also be Senior Day for the Herons as they will honor the team's lone senior Lauren Brustein in a pregame ceremony.

Hobart is 9-12, 5-7 in the conference. The Statesmen are in seventh place in the league, two games out of a playoff spot with four games to go.