SCRANTON -- Scranton University (3-1) scored three unanswered goals to edge the SUNY Potsdam men's lacrosse team (0-1) 5-2 on Friday evening.

Senior captains Pat Bonafede (Churchville, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) and Ed Doherty (Amherst, N.Y./Amherst) each scored for the Bears. Fellow senior captain Pete Gropp (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) picked up where he left off last season with 18 saves.

The first quarter was a tightly played defensive battle with the Royals building a 9-7 advantage in shots. However, Scranton couldn't solve Gropp and the Bears couldn't beat Scranton goalie Nicholas McCaba and the contest was scoreless after the opening 15 minutes.

Bonafede opened the scoring 1:49 into the second quarter with an unassisted tally. Just over three minutes later Josh Kasman tied the score with a helper from Nick Mullery. With 1:53 left in the half the Royals were called for holding and the Bears made the most of the man-up opportunity. With 53 seconds left in the half Bonafede found Doherty at the side of the net to make it a 2-1 contest.

The third quarter was a tight as the other two, but the edge tipped in Scranton's favor. At 10:34, Conor Carey fed Jake Haimson to tie the score. Exactly five minutes later Kasman notched his second of the contest to give the Royals their first lead. At 4:12, Haimson struck for his second and Scranton took a 4-2 advantage into the final period.

The Royals were able to sustain pressure on the Bears' defense and Gropp in the fourth quarter, outshooting Potsdam 12-2. However, Scranton was only able to tack on one final goal. With 2:52 remaining, John Sheridan closed the scoring with an unassisted marker. Gropp stopped seven shots in the quarter.

McCaba finished with seven saves to earn the victory. Potsdam was 1-for-2 in extra-man opportunities, but held the Royals to no man-up goals in four chances.

The Bears look to bounce back when they face Albright College at 1 p.m. in Scranton on Sunday afternoon.