BROCKPORT, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's lacrosse team (5-3, 1-0 SUNYAC) scored two goals in the final 3:17 to defeat Brockport (5-6, 1-1) 10-9 in its SUNYAC opener on the road Saturday afternoon. Juniors
Pat Morrill and
Ryan Paparella each scored three goals for the Bears.
The teams traded goals and leads over the first two quarters. Paparella struck with an assist from sophomore attack
Rob Kunz at 3:38 of the first quarter to open the scoring. Golden Eagle Austin Riley put Brockport up 2-1 with markers at 1:38 of the first quarter and 14:00 of the second. Morrill knotted the score at 2-2 at the 7:40 mark and the count was unchanged at the break.
In the third quarter, the offense picked up, but neither team was able to pull away. The Golden Eagles scored three goals, but Potsdam countered each one with a goal from Morrill, two from Paparella and a man-up tally from freshman midfielder
John Hawk for a 6-5 advantage after 45 minutes.
The teams alternated the first four goals of the final quarter, including strikes from junior attack
Kyle Nicholas and Morrill, to keep Potsdam up 8-7. However, Matt Andon-McLane and Alex Austin scored 37 seconds apart to put Brockport back in front 9-8 with 4:59 left. Again, Nicholas answered for the Bears with an assist from sophomore midfielder
Jared Flath to tie the score with 3:17 left. Freshman midfielder
Dave Kunz won the next faceoff and fed Flath who found senior attack
Peter Pike for the game-winner with 2:27 left. Brockport had four shots in the final 49 seconds, but each sailed wide of the Bears net.
In goal, senior
Mike Quinlan made eight saves for the victory, while Golden Eagle Cory Banwaree finished with eight stops.
Potsdam outshot Brockport 35-29 and was 1-2 in extra-man opportunities. The Bears have three straight one-goal victories against the Golden Eagles and have 10 wins in the last 11 meetings with Brockport.
Next, Potsdam heads to Oswego to take on the Lakers at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 10. The Bears have taken three in a row from the Lakers and five of the last six contests.
