POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's lacrosse team (0-1) took to the field for the first time in just over a year this afternoon, falling to SUNY Cortland (1-0) by a score of 14-6. Sophomore midfielder Peyton Walsh (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) scored two goals for the Bears and senior captain Josh Huiatt (Lisbon, N.Y./Hugh C. Williams) had a goal and an assist. Senior midfielder Brandon Stiles (Mastic, N.Y./Eastport-South Manor) led the Red Dragons with three goals and an assist.
 
Stiles got Cortland off to a fast start, sending a low shot past Bears sophomore goalie Ben Fuchs (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Calvary Christian Academy) just 19 seconds into the contest. The Red Dragons got the next two goals as well, just 1:11 apart from senior midfielder Anthony LaRosa (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow) and sophomore attackman Luke Kilner (Highland Falls, N.Y./James I. O'Neill) for a 3-0 lead with 7:12 left in the first quarter. The Bears answered with two goals in 1:24 to close to within one minutes later. Junior midfielder Alex Burley (Canandaigua, N.Y./Canandaigua) got Potsdam on the board for the first time in 2021 at 4:44 and Walsh netted his first while the Bears were a man up at 3:20. Styles scored the final marker of the quarter with 15 seconds left and Cortland led 4-2 after one.
 
Junior attackman Cam Talcott (Potsdam, N.Y./Potsdam) made it a 4-3 contest with a wrap-around goal at 11:03 of the second quarter. Cortland then took control of the contest with eight straight goals. The Red Dragons scored the last three of the half, including two man-up tallies, the only three of the third quarter and the first two of the fourth quarter for a 12-3 advantage at 11:49.
 
Huiatt stopped the run and buried his 76th career goal with 7:45 left in the contest and then set up freshman attackman Cobie Cree's (Akwesasne, N.Y./Salmon River) first collegiate goal while Potsdam was a man up at 6:36. Walsh scored the Bears' final marker with 2:51 left, before Cortland closed out the nonconference win.
 
Fuchs stopped 14 shots and allowed 12 goals in the game's first 53:04 and freshman Liam O'Neil (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) allowed two goals and made three saves in the last 6:56 to kick off his college career.
 
Cortland junior goalie Marc Esposito (West Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon) earned the win with seven saves and three goals allowed in the first 26:35. Senior Charlie Ricottoni (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills West) made six saves and allowed two goals in the next 27:48. Former Bear and junior Jack Corcoran (Camillus, N.Y./West Genesee) allowed a goal in the final 5:37.
 
The Bears are back in action on Saturday afternoon when they head to Morrisville State for a 3:30 showdown with the Mustangs.