by POTSDAM, N.Y.—Clarkson University (8-1) won a defensive battle on Tuesday night, holding off the SUNY Potsdam men’s lacrosse team (5-3) 7-5. Bears freshman goalie Saka Thompson (Akwesasne, N.Y./Salmon River) was outstanding in his first collegiate start, finishing with a career-high 18 saves. Sophomore attackman Owen Walsh (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) led Potsdam’s offense with two goals and an assist.
Graduate student midfielder Bryan Penney (Wakefield, Mass./St. John’s Prep) opened the scoring at 10:59, giving the Golden Knights a 1-0 lead. Senior attackman Noah Strader (Ogdensburg, N.Y./Ogdensburg Free Academy) tied the game with 3:01 left in the first quarter on a perfect pass from sophomore midfielder Drew Rose (Brasher Falls, N.Y./St. Lawrence Central).
Potsdam grabbed the lead with back-to-back goals to start the second. Owen Walsh made it 2-1 at 14:41 and senior captain Peyton Walsh (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) extended the Bears lead to two at 11:16. With 3:18 to go in the half, senior attackman Thomas Fiebich (Albany, N.Y./Albany Academy) closed the gap to 3-2.
Clarkson got even at 12:19 of the third quarter as junior midfielder Chris Hanchar (Princeton, N.Y./The Albany Academy) struck. At 9:07, junior midfielder Cobie Cree (Akwesasne, N.Y./Salmon River) gave the Bears their final lead with a helper from Owen Walsh. At 5:50, sophomore attackman Vincent Lavarnway (Watertown, N.Y./Watertown) tied the score and Fiebich netted his second at 1:50 and Clarkson led 5-4 after 45 minutes.
Sophomore midfielder Logan Wilkinson (Manlius, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius) scored the Golden Knights’ sixth goal at 14:45. Owen Walsh answered just 21 seconds later, burying a pass from sophomore defender Cole Slavin (Corning, N.Y../Corning-Painted Post) and the Bears were down just one. With 8:33 remaining, Clarkson senior midfielder Tyler Hall (Amherst, N.H./Souhegan) netted the game’s final tally, to close the scoring at 7-5.
Graduate student goalie Jacob Mattice (Canton, N.Y./Hugh C. Williams) stopped 13 shots for the win.
Fiebich led Clarkson with two goals and an assist. Peyton Walsh and Slavin each collected six ground balls and Owen Walsh added five.
