NEW PALTZ, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam women's lacrosse team (6-4, 2-1 SUNYAC) had another big offensive showing as the Bears downed SUNY New Paltz (3-8, 0-3) 18-5 on Tuesday afternoon. Junior attack Murphy Newman (Canton, N.Y./Berkshire School) led the Bears with career-highs in goals (7) and points (9). Senior midfielder Bri McClusky (Watertown, N.Y./Immaculate Heart) entered the contest ranked second in the nation with 3.78 assists-per-game and recorded six more to go with a goal for seven points.

The Hawks struck just 1:21 into the contest for a 1-0 lead. The quick start was deceptive as Potsdam took control of the contest with an 11-0 run starting just 1:38 later. Newman totaled five goals during the stretch. Freshman midfielder Cayla O'Connor (Dexter, N.Y./General Brown) added two goals, while McClusky, senior defender Lizzie Marchbanks (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool), senior defender Maggie McCabe (Camillus, N.Y./West Genesee) and junior attack Michaela Cole (Parishville, N.Y./Parishville-Hopkinton) chipped in one each. The run put Potsdam up 11-1 with 27:20 go in the second half.

A 3-1 stretch got New Paltz within 12-4 at the 18:29 mark, with Newman's sixth tally coming at 23:01. Newman notched her sixth at 17:55 and McCabe made it 14-4 1:50 later. After another Hawks tally, Potsdam closed out the contest with four straight goals. Cole buried her second of the day at 12:46, followed by a man-up goal from freshman defender Meaghan Paige (Carthage, N.Y./Carthage) with 6:57 to play. McClusky set up McCabe's third at 2:19 and Newman struck for her seventh and 43rd of the season with 37 seconds left.

In goal, Devan Olschewske (Canandaigua, N.Y./Canandaigua) stopped eight shots in the first 52:04 to earn her 14th career win. She is just one behind Kaci Milligan '12 for first place on the program's all-time wins list. Freshman Katie Longamore (Dexter, N.Y./General Brown) finished with a save in the last 7:56. Colleen Roemer made nine saves for New Paltz.

The Bears dominated on draw controls again, building a 19-6 advantage. McCabe had a game-high five, while McClusky and junior midfielder Alyssa Ferenczy (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville South) collected four and three, respectively.

McCabe continued her ascent up the program's defensive statistics ranks. She is seventh in ground balls (109) and draw controls (79) tied for sixth in caused turnovers (44). Newman's day gives her 74 career goals, good for ninth all-time. Her 89 points are just eight shy of Jill Patterson '01 for 10th place on the scoring list. Newman's 43 goals this year are the fifth most by a Bear in a single season and the most since Carly Richards '12 in 2011. McClusky has 185 career points on 83 goals and 102 assists. She is now 33 points behind Richards for the program's scoring title.

The Bears, who have scored 37 goals in their last two games, have picked the right time to peak. They face a tall task at No. 12 Brockport this Saturday at 1 p.m.