POTSDAM, N.Y.—Brockport (3-2, 1-0 SUNYAC) defeated the SUNY Potsdam women’s lacrosse team (4-5, 0-1) 17-8 in its SUNYAC opener on Saturday afternoon. Despite the loss junior Carly Richards (Niskayuna, N.Y./Niskayuna) recorded a goal and an assist to become the Bears all-time leading scorer with 165 points (116 goals-49 assists). Junior Dayna Piraino (Syracuse, N.Y./Henninger) led the Golden Eagles with six points (1 goal, five assists), while sophomore Sarah Brown (Syracuse, N.Y./West Genesee) contributed five (2-3-5). Junior Sierra Langkammerer (Fayetteville, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius) scored three goals for Potsdam and junior Maribeth Simmons (Clinton, Conn./The Morgan School) added two goals and an assist.

Brockport jumped out to an early 4-1 lead at 23:15 of the first half, capped by Potsdam native Kaila Maguire’s first of her game-high four goals on a free position. The Bears responded with three of the next five goals with goals from Langkammerer, junior Whitney Boshart (Calcium, N.Y./Indian River), and Richards to close to within 6-4 at the 7:13 mark. Potsdam wouldn’t get any closer as Brockport finished the half on a 4-0 run to build a 10-4 lead.

Simmons and Langkammerer scored two of the first three goals of the second half and the Bears trailed 11-6 at 22:59. Again the Golden Eagles answered with a big run, scoring the next five and putting the game out of reach. Boshart and Simmons sandwiched the last Potsdam goals around another Maguire score for the 17-8 final.

Bears’ junior goalie Kaci Milligan (Liverpool, N.Y./Bishop Ludden) made 11 saves, while Brockport senior Jamie Kaminsky (Oakdale, N.Y./Sayville) stopped seven shots for the win.

The Golden Eagles outshot Potsdam 33-21 and the Bears finished with a 38-34 advantage in groundballs. Brockport sophomore Stephanie Toomey (East Rochester, N.Y./East Rochester) and junior Karen Bianchi (Syracuse, N.Y./West Genesee) each scored three times.

Bears Head Coach Lauren Bruce expected a challenge from the talented Golden Eagles.

"Brockport is a very good team. We played with them in the beginning, but didn't play the full 60 minutes,” Bruce said. “It was hard to recover from the run they made to end the first half."

Bruce had high praise for her program’s new scoring leader, but said Richard’s success didn’t surprise her.

"We knew Carly would be a program-changer when we recruited her. She always gives 110 percent and plays with heart. She has great competitiveness and a drive to win,” added Bruce. “It's very impressive that Carly's made her mark half way through her junior year. Her record will be tough to beat.”

Potsdam continues conference play when the Bears travel to Oneonta on Tuesday, April 5, for a 4 p.m. showdown with the Red Dragons.