POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's lacrosse team (4-6, 1-3 SUNYAC) rallied late before falling to SUNY Geneseo (8-3, 2-1) 11-8 on Senior Day. Junior attackman Nick Orsini (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) led the Bears with three goals and senior captain Casey Boulio (Carthage, N.Y./Carthage) had two goals and an assist.
 
The Blue Knights got goals from senior midfielder Michael Engstrom (Fayetteville, N.Y./Jamesville-DeWitt) and senior attackman Ryan Gulbransen (Setauket, N.Y./Ward Melville) for a 2-0 lead at 4:46 of the first quarter. Potsdam answered with two goals in 1:28 to tie the game. Boulio set up senior attackman Berkley Stone (Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand) at 3:50 and Orsini netted his first at 2:22.
 
Five second quarter goals proved to be the difference in the game for Geneseo. After Blue Knight sophomore attackman Zachary DeBottis (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) and Orsini traded goals early in the quarter, Geneseo went on a 7-1 run which carried into the second half. The Bears trailed 7-4 at the break.
 
The Blue Knights opened the third quarter with a goal from DeBottis at 12:25 and two from sophomore attackman Kyle Wanamaker (Valley College, N.Y./Nyack) at 12:12 and 10:28 to build a 10-4 lead. Potsdam controlled the rest of the quarter and went on a 4-0 run. Junior attackman Eric Soderquist (Watertown, N.Y./Watertown) struck at 9:47 on the man advantage with an assist from freshman attackman Nick Henrie (Massena, N.Y./Massena). Freshman midfielder Josh Huiatt (Lisbon, N.Y./Hugh C. Williams) set up senior captain Matt Moran (Watertown, N.Y./Immaculate Heart) at 5:40 and Boulio closed the gap to 10-7 at 3:54.
 
Boulio finished a feed from Moran with 4:54 to play in the fourth. Potsdam controlled the play for large stretches in the final 15 minutes, outshooting Geneseo 15-6, but couldn't get any closer. Wanamaker capped the scoring at 11-8 with 1:02 remaining.
 
Senior goalie Jack Bezek (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) made nine saves for the Bears. Geneseo junior goalie Michael Yehl (Churchville, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) earned the win with 17 stops.
 
Potsdam outshot the Blue Knights 51-31. Freshman Luke Vitale (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield Ludlow) had a career day with 15 faceoff wins in 22 attempts.
 
Prior to the contest, Potsdam honored seniors Lucas Clark (Watertown, N.Y./Immaculate Heart), Bezek, Boulio, Adam Lewis (West Stockholm, N.Y./Potsdam), Lucas Canino (Highland, N.Y./Highland), Bobby Sollenne (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva), Stephen Lewis (West Stockholm, N.Y./Potsdam), Michael Roukous (Dexter, N.Y./General Brown), Moran, Stone and Alex Armstrong (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) for their careers.
 
The Bears are back in action on Tuesday night when they host No. 8 St. Lawrence University at 7 p.m.

 

SUNY Potsdam Men's Lacrosse Class of 2017