POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's lacrosse team (10-4, 5-2 SUNYAC) used timely offense and stifling defense to defeat Oswego State (9-5, 3-4) 12-5 on Saturday afternoon. The victory gives the Bears the third seed in the upcoming SUNYAC Tournament.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Senior attackman Billy Kozloski (Johnson City, N.Y./Johnson City) buried a feed from sophomore attackman Braydon Goddard (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Saratoga Springs) to open the scoring at 13:10 of the first quarter. After a Laker goal tied the contest, Kozloski struck again followed by two tallies from freshman midfielder Ronin Oakes (Hogansburg, N.Y./Massena) to close the quarter at 4-1. Sophomore midfielder Preston Daniels (Peru, N.Y./Peru) and senior attackman Rowisonkies Barnes (Akwesasne, N.Y./The Hill Academy) picked up assists.
• The Bears outscored Oswego 3-2 in the second quarter to make it a 7-3 contest at the half. Goddard, Oakes and Barnes each scored and sophomore midfielder Grant Dicob (Watertown, N.Y./Carthage) assisted on the final goal of the three.
• There was no scoring until the final minute of the third quarter. Barnes set up junior captain Morgan Fox (Clayton, N.Y./Thousand Islands) with 38 seconds left and senior captain Drew Costello (Ogdensburg, N.Y./Ogdensburg Free Academy) assisted on Barnes' marker with 12 seconds left.
• Another 3-2 quarter sealed Potsdam's 12-5 win. Costello, Goddard and Kozloski gave the Bears' more than enough insurance. Goddard, Kozloski and Barnes assisted on the goals in order.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Potsdam outshot Oswego 40-29, including a 22-12 advantage in the second half. The Bears also had a 44-29 edge in ground balls.
• Barnes led the Bears with five points on two goals and three assists. Kozloski finished with three goals and an assist
• Goddard had two goals and two assists along with three ground balls and one caused turnover. Oakes scored three times.
• Costello won 15 of his 21 faceoff attempts and collected 12 ground balls. Freshman defender Damyn LeClair (Marcellus, N.Y./Marcellus) caused five turnovers and picked up nine ground balls.
• Senior goalie Saka Thompson (Akwesasne, N.Y./Salmon River) made 11 saves to extend his program record to 25 wins.
• Lakers senior goalie Seamus Hand (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) also stopped 11 shots.
• Senior attackman Hayden Coney (Watertown, N.Y./General Brown) and junior attackman Logan Postel (Farmingville, N.Y./Sachem East) led Oswego with two goals each.
• The victory ends an eight-game skid against the Lakers and is the Bears' first win in the series since April 14, 2015.
• Wednesday's semifinal marks Potsdam's 15th SUNYAC Tournament appearance in the last 22 seasons. They will face SUNY Oneonta in the playoffs for the first time ever.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The third seeded Bears will face the second seeded Red Dragons in Oneonta on Wednesday. Game time is still to be announced.