POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's lacrosse team (6-1) trailed 9-5 entering the fourth quarter, but exploded for six goals to down Clarkson University (2-6) 11-9 on Wednesday night. The win was the the sixth in a row for the Bears, tying the program record set in 1998. It was also Potsdam's first win over the Golden Knights since 2007. Senior captain Pat Bonafede (Churchville, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) and senior midfielder Brian Martin (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) each had three goals and an assist to lead the Bears.
 
Clarkson got on the board just 46 seconds into the contest as sophomore attackman Sam Groves (Milton, N.Y./Ballston Spa) finished a pass from senior attackman J.R. Campbell (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Saratoga) at the left side of the net. Just over a minute later, Potsdam sophomore attackman Eric Soderquist (Watertown, N.Y./Watertown) rang the first of five posts on the evening, just missing the tying goal. At 8:28, sophomore midfielder Brendan Brady (Needham, Mass./Needham) made it 2-0 Clarkson. Martin finally got the Bears on the board at 4:12 with an assist from Bonafede, but the Golden Knights answered with two straight to take a 4-1 lead into the break.
 
Clarkson junior attackman Bob DaRin (Manlius, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius) hit the post just over two minutes into the second quarter, but junior midfielder Scott Dosser (Eden, N.Y./St. Francis) made up for it at 11:57 to make it a 5-1 contest. Bonafede answered with his first on a long low shot through a crowd at 7:15 to close the gap to 4-2. After DaRin made it 5-2 at 4:53, Bonafede and Martin scored in succession to make 5-4 at the break.
 
The Golden Knights outscored the Bears 4-1 in the third quarter to take their biggest lead of the game at 9-5. Potsdam hit the post twice during the period and its lone goal came on a man-up opportunity as Martin notched his third of the game at 2:14. Groves scored with six seconds left in the quarter to put the Bears on the ropes.
 
Potsdam wasted no time in the third quarter, scoring three times in the opening 4:04. Junior midfielder Matt Moran (Watertown, N.Y./Immaculate Heart) struck at 12:59 and Martin set up Soderquist on another highlight reel goal 37 seconds later. Junior midfielder Casey Boulio (Carthage, N.Y./Carthage) closed the gap to 9-8 at the 10:56 mark with a low shot that beat Clarkson junior goalie Nick Strandholm (Happy Valley, Ore./Clackamas) five-hole. Clarkson controlled the ball for much of the next five minutes, but only got one shot away and Bears senior captain Pete Gropp (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) stuffed Groves on the attempt. At 5:32, Moran tied the game for the first time with a high shot from in front of the goal. The Golden Knights were whistled for a slashing penalty at the same time and Potsdam made them pay. Just 21 seconds later, Soderquist found senior captain Ed Doherty (Amherst, N.Y./Amherst) for the eventual game-winner on the man advantage. Potsdam was called for slashing with 3:34 to go. Gropp made his biggest save of the contest 38 seconds later, shutting down Campbell and the Bears killed off the penalty. Potsdam cleared its zone and ran the clock down. With 43 seconds left, Moran drew a 30-second Clarkson holding penalty. The Golden Knights pulled Strandholm, but couldn't get the ball back. Bonafede worked the ball all around the net and with 2.1 seconds remaining, fired a long shot from just outside the attack box into the empty net to ice the 11-9 victory.
 
Gropp finished with 15 saves to earn his 12th career win, while Strandholm stopped eight shots.
 
Potsdam edged Clarkson in shots 37-35 and the Golden Knights topped the Bears in ground balls (32-31) and faceoffs (12-11). Clarkson was 0-for-1 in extra-man opportunities and the Bears were 2-for-4.
 
Potsdam opens SUNYAC play on Saturday afternoon when the Bears host SUNY Oneonta at 1 p.m.