POTSDAM, N.Y.—Clarkson University (1-0) downed the SUNY Potsdam women's lacrosse team (0-1) 12-5 in the teams' season opener on Wednesday afternoon. Senior captains Murphy Newman (Canton, N.Y./Berkshire School) and Katie Lapinski (Canton, N.Y./Hugh C. Williams) each had two goals and an assist to lead the Bears. Sophomore midfielder Jaid Baytos (Watertown, N.Y./Immaculate Heart) led the Golden Knights with three goals and an assist.
 
Clarkson's defense was very strong in the first half, allowing their offense to slowly take advantage. Golden Knights freshman Katie Sergeant (Ontario, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy) started a 5-0 run with a free-position marker at 24:39. Sergeant then set up junior midfielder Taylor Collins (Syracuse, N.Y./West Genesee) 59 seconds later. Senior attack Kate Dillon (St. Alban's, Vt./Bellows Free Academy) netted the next two goals at 21:02 and 17:33 and Baytos capped the run at 14:17. Newman got the Bears on the board at 11:13, but Clarkson freshman Emma Andrews (Mexico, N.Y./Mexico Academy) made it 6-1 at 4:30 and the score was unchanged at the break.
 
Baytos opened the scoring five minutes into the second half, but Lapinski answered with a pretty move to make it 7-2 at 23:38. Senior attack Ashley Flick and Collins extended the Golden Knights' advantage to 9-2 at 16:21. Lapinski and senior midfielder Michaela Cole (Parishville, N.Y./Parishville-Hopkinton) countered with assists from Newman and junior attack Rachael Huntley (Canton, N.Y./Hugh C. Williams), respectively to make it a 9-4 contest. Clarkson sealed the win with three straight goals from freshman midfielder Abby Collins (Syracuse, N.Y./West Genesee), Sergeant and Baytos in a 2:41 span to open up a 12-4 lead. Newman connected with Lapinski one final time to close the scoring with 2:59 remaining.
 
Golden Knights sophomore goalie Samantha Gladd (Rensselaer, N.Y./Columbia) made five saves for the win, while Bears senior captain Devan Olschewske (Canandaigua, N.Y./Canandaigua) stopped eight shots.
 
Sophomore midfielder Cayla O'Connor (Dexter, N.Y./General Brown) recorded a game-high five draw controls and senior defender Alyssa Ferenczy (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville South) caused a contest-best five turnovers.
 
With her three points, Newman moves past Maribeth Simmons '12 into sixth place on the program's all-time scoring list with 111 (94g, 17a).
 
The Bears are back in action on Saturday, when they travel to Utica for a 3 p.m. contest with the Pioneers.