NEW PALTZ, N.Y.— Senior captain Josh Huiatt (Lisbon, N.Y./Hugh C. Williams) had a career-high nine points to lead the SUNY Potsdam men's lacrosse team (4-3, 3-1 SUNYAC East) over SUNY New Paltz (0-6, 0-4) 14-5. Huiatt now has 152 points (92g, 60a) moving him into seventh place on the program's scoring and goals lists.
 
Junior attackman Cam Talcott (Potsdam, N.Y./Potsdam) stayed hot with four goals and an assist. Sophomore attackman Noah Strader (Ogdensburg, N.Y./Ogdensburg Free Academy) had a career day with three goals and junior attackman Philip Dorman (New Paltz, N.Y./New Paltz) had solid performance in his hometown with a goal and assist. Freshman goalie Liam O'Neil (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) came off the bench to make eight saves and pick up his first collegiate victory.
 
Sophomore midfielder Peyton Walsh (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) got the Bears on the board first with a man-up goal at 11:34 with an assist from Huiatt. Ryan Scully answered for the Hawks with two straight just 23 seconds apart and New Paltz grabbed the lead at 8:10. At 5:58, O'Neil replaced sophomore Ben Fuchs (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Calvary Christian Academy) in goal. At 5:01, Dorman got the Bears even with assist from Huiatt. The goal was the beginning of a 7-0 run and the contest was even after the first 15 minutes.
 
It was all Potsdam in the second quarter as the Bears outscored the Hawks 6-1. At 13:37, Walsh set up junior attackman Ryan Spaman (Ogdensburg, N.Y./Ogdensburg Free Academy) put Potsdam back in front. Just over a minute later, New Paltz misplayed a loose ball into its own net. Huiatt made it 5-2 at the 9:47 mark with a helper from junior assistant captain Henry Reber (Canandaigua, N.Y./Canandaigua) and Talcott scored the next three. He found the back of the net at 9:06, 7:09 and 3:44 to make it 8-2. The last of the three was assisted by Huiatt. John Reese ended the run just before the half, but the New Paltz still found itself down 8-3.
 
The teams traded goals to start the third stanza. Talcott netted his fourth of the game just six seconds with another assist from Huiatt. Scully scored his third of the game and the Hawk's fourth at 12:09. Huiatt notched his second at 10:27 on a pass from junior assistant captain Trent Woodroe (North Tonawanda, N.Y./North Tonawanda) and got his third five minutes later with an assist from sophomore attackman Nick Zalucky (Wynantskill, N.Y./La Salle Institute). Potsdam led 11-4 after 45 minutes.
 
Strader scored all three of Potsdam's goals in the third quarter. Huiatt assisted on the first two and Dorman set up the third, while the Bears were down a man. Justin Pollak answered a final time for the Hawks, but Potsdam closed out the 14-5 win.
 
Fuchs allowed two goals in the first 9:02, while O'Neil stopped eight shots and allowed three goals. Nate Lindsey made 11 saves and allowed 11 goals in the first half for the Hawks and Ryan Steinhart made five saves and allowed three goals in the last 30 minutes.
 
Bears junior faceoff specialist Brandon Smith (Philadelphia, N.Y./Indian River) had another strong day, winning 13 of his 20 opportunities in the circle. The win pushes Potsdam closer to a postseason berth.
 
The Bears are back in action when they host crosstown rival Clarkson University at 7 p.m. on Monday night.
 
 
Bears Roaring Back
Bears Roaring Back is the College's first comprehensive annual giving campaign supporting SUNY Potsdam Athletics and on-campus athletic programming. The campaign will begin on April 9 and continue through April 19, 2021. For more information on how to give, visit potsdam.edu/bearsroaringback.