POTSDAM, N.Y.—SUNY Cortland (4-6, 2-0 SUNYAC) shook off a tight first half to defeat the SUNY Potsdam men's lacrosse team (3-4, 0-1) 1\2-4 on Saturday afternoon. Freshman midfielder
Owen Walsh (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) scored two goals for the Bears and sophomore goalie
Liam O'Neil (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) made a career-high 20 saves.
The Red Dragons opened the contest on a 5-1 run and led by that score at 6:20 of the second quarter. Graduate student midfielder Zak Jones (East Quogue, N.Y./Westhampton Beach) scored twice during the span and senior attackman Dante Yacavone (Homer, N.Y./Homer) had a goal and an assist. Walsh got the Bears on the board at 11:29 of the first quarter on a strong individual effort.
Sophomore midfielder
Ayden LaFave (Philadelphia, N.Y./Indian River) scored his third career goal for Potsdam at 4:26. Sophomore attack
Cobie Cree (Hogansburg, N.Y./Salmon River) got his 12th of the season on a behind-the-back shot with a helper from senior midfielder
Ethan Clark (Seven Valleys, Pa./Spring Grove) at 2:29. Potsdam was down just 5-3. Cortland extended its lead back to three at 1:12 with a goal from senior attackman Pat Doyen (Miller Place, N.Y./Miller Place).
Red Dragon senior attackman Chris Dovi (Cortland, N.Y./Cortland) scored the only two goals of the third quarter and Cortland led 8-3 after 45 minutes.
Walsh cut the gap to 8-4 at 12:03 of the fourth quarter, but the Red Dragons answered with the final four goals of the game. Dovi scored his third at 11:33 with Yacavone netting his second just 22 seconds later. At 7:22, graduate student midfielder Brandon Stiles (Mastic, N.Y./Eastport-South Manor) made it 11-4 and Dovi buried his fourth at 2:15 to close the scoring.
Sophomore goalie Travis Wagner (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) earned the win with 13 saves in 57:45. Junior Matt Stento (Bethlehem, N.Y./Bethlehem) didn't face a shot in the last 2:15.
Senior defender
Blaze Benedict (Akwesasne, N.Y./Salmon River) had five ground balls and two caused turnovers. Senior captain
Trent Woodroe (North Tonawanda, N.Y./North Tonawanda) added three ground balls and two caused turnovers and freshman long-stick midfielder
Ben Lagoner (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) won five faceoffs and collected two ground balls.
The Bears head to Oswego State on Tuesday for 4 p.m. SUNYAC matchup, a game that was postponed from March 27.
