POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's lacrosse team (8-8) defeated SUNY Geneseo (7-7), 18-17, for its first ever SUNYAC playoff win and earned a trip the SUNYAC Championship on Saturday. Bears' Junior Peter Pike (Watertown, N.Y./General Brown) led all scorers with four goals and five assists. Potsdam senior Kevin Green (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) scored four goals and sophomore Robbie Ashlaw (North Syracuse, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) tallied three times, including the game-winner.

The contest had five lead changes and the teams combined for 10 goals in the first quarter and 15 in the final quarter. Geneseo led 6-4 after one, 8-7 at the half, and the teams were tied at 10 after three.

Potsdam appeared to take control of the game with a 4-0 run as the fourth quarter started, giving the Bears a 14-10 lead with 10:10 to play. Green opened the run 46 seconds into the final 15 minutes followed by tallies from Pike, junior Zeppy O'Geen (Massena, N.Y./Massena), and senior Sean McAuliffe (Watertown, N.Y./Watertown). However, the Blue Knights weren't done as they answered with three straight to close to within 14-13 at the 7:57 mark. The Bears got two of the next three from Green and O'Geen and Potsdam led by two with 6:06 left. Again the Blue Knights battled back to knot the score at 16 with goals from juniors Brendan Kurpis (Yorktown, N.Y./Yorktown) and Jeff Watson (Camillus, N.Y./Marcellus). The Bears continued to execute when they needed getting goals from Green at 2:39 and Ashlaw at 1:25. The goals proved to be the difference as Kurpis scored his fifth of the game with two seconds remaining, but the Blue Knights were out of time.

Senior goalie Pat Corbine (Canton, N.Y./Hugh C. Williams) made 12 saves for his fifth victory of the season. Geneseo freshman Ryan Zaremba (Bayshore, N.Y./Army Prep) played the first 35:06 in goal, allowing nine goals. Junior Noah Berg (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton) played the last 24:54, giving up another nine goals and making three stops.

Offensively, senior Craig Lange (Syracuse, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy) led Geneseo with a goal and seven assists. Kurpis finished with five goals and an assist and senior Evan Bryant (Amherst, N.Y./Williamsville North) chipped in another five.

"If you would have told me today that we were going to come out and score 18 goals, I don't think I would have believed you,” said Bears Head Coach Rick Berkman. “Then if you would have said we were going to score 18 goals and win by one ... going into the game that's not what I was expecting.”

Potsdam will now head to Cortland for a rematch with the Red Dragons on Saturday, May 7, at 4 p.m. Despite a loss at Cortland on April 23, Berkman is more than hopeful for the rematch.

“Cortland is a perennial power. They're No. 4 in the nation and they beat us soundly a couple weeks ago,” Berkman said. “The way I look at it now is that we're 60 minutes away from the NCAA Tournament and anything can happen.”