POTSDAM, N.Y.—Graduate student midfielder Peyton Walsh (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) matched a career-high with six goals and two assists for eight points as the SUNY Potsdam men's lacrosse team (2-1) ran over SUNY Poly (0-1) 16-5 in its home opener. Walsh became the seventh Bear to reach 100 goals and moved into 10th place on the all-time scoring list with 138 points (103g-35a). Junior midfielder Ryan Hughes (Corning, N.Y./Corning-Painted Post) scored a career-high five goals. Junior attackmen Owen Walsh (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) and Cobie Cree (Akwesasne, N.Y./Salmon River) each added a goal and three assists.
 
Potsdam scored the first three goals of the game. Hughes finished a pass from Cree at 11:26 to open the scoring. Peyton Walsh netted his first while a man-up at 10:30 on a helper from junior midfielder Drew Rose (Brasher Falls, N.Y./St. Lawrence Central). Cree then assisted on Walsh's second of the contest at 9:23. Graduate student attack Andrew Maycock (Deerfield, N.Y./Whitesboro) got the Wildcats on the board at 8:32 with a low shot from the right side of the goal. The Bears then closed out the opening quarter with three more goals, beginning a 5-0 run. Rose scored a man-up marker with an assist from Cree at 6:41. Hughes buried his second at 5:53 on a feed from senior captain Bryce Tyler (Camden, Maine, Camden Hills). At 2:00, Peyton Walsh notched his 100th goal with an assist from brother Owen. Potsdam led 6-1 after 15 minutes.
 
Owen Walsh set up Hughes' third goal at 13:48 of the second quarter. Peyton Walsh followed with an unassisted tally at 12:05. Freshman midfielder Ryan Carroll (Fulton, N.Y./G. Ray Bodley) ended the run with a goal for SUNY Poly at 10:25, but Potsdam started a 6-0 run a minute later. Sophomore attackman Crayton Cree (Hogansburg, N.Y./Salmon River) scored at 9:29 with an assist from Peyton Walsh. Cobie Cree made it 10-2 at 5:47 with an assist from Owen Walsh. Peyton Walsh struck for his fifth at 5:04 and sent Potsdam into the half up by nine.
 
Hughes scored his fourth while a man-up on an assist from sophomore Tyler Gould (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) 43 seconds into the third quarter. Rose set up Peyton Walsh's sixth goal at 4:56 and Hughes closed the scoring in the third at 2:57 to make it 14-2.
 
The Wildcats scored three of the five goals in the fourth quarter. Junior midfielder Payton Thomas (Corning, N.Y./Corning-Painted Post) scored a man-up goal at 12:24. Owen Walsh answered at 11:15 with a helper from Peyton. Carroll and senior attack Lyle Beeman (Fulton, N.Y./G. Ray Bodley) scored consecutive markers for SUNY Poly to make it 15-5 at 7:48. Beeman's goal came while the Wildcats were a man-up. Freshman midfielder Braden Fahey (Halfmoon, N.Y./Shenendehowa) closed the scoring at 2:36 with his first career-goal.
 
Sophomore goalie Saka Thompson (Akwesasne,  N.Y./Salmon River) picked up the win after stopping two shots and allowing two goals in the first 30 minutes. Junior captain Liam O'Neil (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) made five saves and allowed three goals in the next 25:11. Senior Chris Wilk (Rutland, N.Y./Rutland) made two saves in the last 4:49.
 
Senior Joseph VanZandt (Churchville, N.Y./Pittsford-Mendon) allowed 11 goals and made five saves in the first half for the Wildcats. Junior Owen Infantino (Greece, N.Y./Greece Arcadia) made 10 saves in the second half and allowed five goals.
 
Bears sophomore faceoff specialist Drew Costello (Ogdensburg, N.Y./Ogdensburg Free Academy) dominated the faceoff circle, winning 19 of his 22 attempts and collecting a game-best 11 ground balls. Cobie Cree had six ground balls and four caused turnovers. Peyton Walsh had five ground balls and O'Neil had four. Junior captain Cole Slavin (Corning, N.Y./Corning-Painted Post) caused three turnovers.
 
After the contest, Bears Head Coach Rick Berkman was honored for his 30 years at the helm of the program. A reception for the three-time SUNYAC Coach of the Year was attended by family, friends, current players and alums and their families.
 
Potsdam has been dominant in home openers under Berkman, recording a 22-8 record.
 
The Bears are back in action on Tuesday, when they head to Castleton University for a 4 p.m. contest with the Spartans.
 

30 Seasons

Bears Head Coach Rick Berkman poses with family during a reception honoring him for his 30 seasons as head coach.

Bears Head Coach Rick Berkman with his team during the reception after a 16-5 win over SUNY Poly.