CASTLETON, VT.—The SUNY Potsdam women's lacrosse team (2-4) defeated Vermont-State Castleton (1-2) 11-9 on Wednesday evening.


HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Bears outscored the Spartans 3-2 in the first quarter. Junior attack Abby Kraus (Buffalo, N.Y./Frontier), sophomore midfielder Maggie Akin (Potsdam, N.Y./Potsdam) and sophomore attack Jayla Thompson (Hogansburg, N.Y./Massena) each scored with Akin's tally coming on a free position. Megan Culp and Phoebe Loomis each scored man-up goals for Castleton.
• Potsdam had a 2-1 advantage in the second quarter and led 5-3 at the half. Senior captain Megan MacWilliams (Parishville, N.Y./Parishville-Hopkinton) made it 4-1 and then Kraus set up Thompson's second marker at 11:28. Renny Cota netted the Spartans' lone goal of the quarter.
• The teams split the six goals in the third quarter, but the Bears held on to an 8-6 advantage. Loomis got the first of the quarter while a man-up, but Kraus scored twice and sophomore attack Ava Murphy (Lisbon, N.Y./Lisbon) had the other Potsdam tally. Senior attack Auna Shadle (Massena, N.Y./Massena) and Murphy each assisted on Kraus' goals. Bella Gale and Cota had Castleton's other goals.
• The Bears finished the contest the same way they started, with a 3-2 edge in scoring. Spartans Lanza Bellomo and Cota got Castleton even with back-to-back goals just 2:24 into the fourth quarter. Murphy and Thompson answered with three consecutive goals to regain the three-goal advantage with 6:45 to play. Murphy's second goal came while a man-up and Kraus assisted on Thompson's third marker. Murphy added a third goal on a free-position at 5:42. Loomis got her third and Castleton's final goal at 3:26.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Potsdam outshot Castleton 30-29.
• Kraus led the Bears with five points on three goals and two assists to go with five ground balls, three draw controls and two caused turnovers.
• Murphy recorded three goals and an assist along with five ground balls and a caused turnover.
• Thompson had three goals, three ground balls and a caused turnover.
• Junior defender Rachel Madore (Peru, N.Y./Peru) caused a contest-best five turnovers.
• Senior goalie Jane Olszewski (Thornwood, N.Y./Westlake) made nine saves for her fourth career victory.
• Samantha White stopped eight shots for Castleton.
• Loomis and Cota had three goals apiece for the Spartans.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Bears open SUNYAC play in one week at SUNY Cortland in a 4 p.m. contest.