POTSDAM, N.Y.—For over three quarters, the SUNY Potsdam men's lacrosse team (6-5, 1-3 SUNYAC) gave SUNY Cortland (8-3, 4-0 SUNYAC) all it could handle before falling 9-5. Graduate student midfielder Peyton Walsh (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) scored twice for the Bears, while junior attackman Owen Walsh (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) had a goal and an assist. Junior attackman Cobie Cree (Akwesasne, N.Y./Salmon River) and junior midfielder Drew Rose (Brasher Falls, N.Y./St. Lawrence Central) had Potsdam's other goals. Sophomore goalie Saka Thompson (Akwesasne, N.Y./Salmon River) was sharp again, stopping 14 shots.
 
The Bears came out with good energy and had the Red Dragons on their heels early. At 8:49, Peyton Walsh opened the scoring. At the 3:58 mark, junior midfielder Klay Stuver (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) got Cortland even with a man-up marker. Just 36 seconds later, Peyton Walsh put Potsdam up and with two seconds left in the first quarter, Cree rifled a shot into the upper right corner of the goal. The Bears led 3-1 after 15 minutes.
 
The Red Dragons scored the only two goals of the second quarter to forge a 3-3 tie at the half. Junior midfielder Ryan Scanlon (Cornelius, N.C./West Amos) struck at 12:34. Stuver notched his second at 9:36.
 
Rose gave Potsdam a 4-3 lead at 12:27 of the third quarter, burying a feed from Owen Walsh from the right side. Sophomore midfielder Josh Michel (Manlius, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius) tied the game again at 6:48 and the contest was even heading into the final 15 minutes.
 
Just 35 seconds into the fourth quarter, Owen Walsh gave the Bears the lead a final time. The Red Dragons finally cracked Potsdam's defense for good beginning 42 seconds later.  Stuver completed his hat trick at 13:43 to tie the game and ignite a 5-0 run to finish the contest. At 11:08, freshman attackman Sean Kavanaugh (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) netted the eventual game winter. Stuver added his fourth and fifth of the day at 10:07 and 9:05, the second coming while a man-up. Sophomore attackman Nick Stoecker (East Setauket, N.Y./Ward Melville) closed the scoring at 5:33.
 
Red Dragons senior goalie Travis Wagner (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) earned the win with 11 saves, making several critical ones early in the contest.
 
With his two goals today, Peyton Walsh moves into a tie with Hall of Famer and All-American Chris Mele '87 on the goals scored list with 125. He's just nine behind the record holder, Hall of Famer and All-American Joe Schoener '85 (134). Walsh has 174 career points, three behind All-American Josh Huiatt '21 for fourth place on the all-time scoring list.
 
The Bears are back in action next Saturday, when they host SUNY New Paltz at 1 p.m. on Senior Day.