POTSDAM, N.Y. --- The SUNY Potsdam women's lacrosse team (2-5, 0-1 SUNYAC) fell to SUNY New Paltz (5-2, 1-0 SUNYAC) on Saturday afternoon. While it was mainly a back and forth contest, the Hawks run in the second half that gave them a five goal lead was too much for the Bears to overcome as they lost 12-9. Senior midfielder Cayla O'Connor (Dexter, N.Y./General Brown), junior midfielder Alexa Ferrer (Warnick, N.Y./Warwick Valley), and sophomore midfielder Zoe Morgenroth (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) all finished with two goals a piece in the contest. Freshman attacker Katie Zito (Glenmont, N.Y./Bethlehem Central High School) and sophomore attacker Amy Hofer (Newfield, N.Y./Newfield High School) each led New Paltz with three goals.

The Bears got the opening goal of the game after senior captain Meaghan Paige (Carthage, N.Y./Carthage) took advantage of her free position shot about three minutes in. Senior midfielder Rachael Purtell (Minetto, N.Y./Oswego High School) opened up the scoring for the Hawks with a quick stick goal in the attack area. The goal by Purtell ignited a run by New Paltz as they scored three straight. First, Hofer gave New Paltz their first lead of the contest after splitting the defense from the wing area for a score. Then, sophomore attacker Tara Bovich (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip High School) scored after scoring from the left side of the goalkeeper. The last goal of the run came after freshman OM Maddy Carullo (River Vale, NJ/Pascack Valley High School) scored off the pass from senior attacker Taylor Russel (Churchville, N.Y./Churchville-Chilli High School) by cutting inside near the keeper and scoring. The Bears put an end to the run by the Hawks after sophomore midfielder Keira Thacker's (Oakville, Ontario/T.A. Blakelock) scoop shot during her successful free position opportunity. O' Connor scored shortly after for Potsdam after cutting inside and scoring from over the top of her defenders, making the game 4-3. Zito scored the last goal of the half after finding herself open. The Hawks led 5-3 at halftime.

Freshman midfielder Calena Rodriguez (Albany, N.Y./Albany) opened up the second half scoring by shooting over the top of two defenders for a Potsdam goal. Bovich's low shot goal after the feed from Zito allowed New Paltz to regain their two goal advantage. After the Hawks won a draw control, Hofer gained controlled of the ball and went all the way in for the score before the keeper could react. The Bears came back on the other end and Morgenroth after catching the defense off guard after a missed free position shot. About a minute later, Holfer scored her third goal of the afternoon after an assist from Jennifer O'Leary. O'Connor brought the Bears to within two goals after getting the feed from junior attackman Alli Stark (Walworth, N.Y./Gananda), spinning off her defender, and scoring at the 21:01 mark. With their lead once again at only two, New Paltz gave themselves breathing room with two straight successful free position shots. Zito, added another goal to their lead after her quick shot, forcing a Bears timeout at the 15:06 mark. Morgenroth put an end to the Hawks run and the Bears drought with her successful free position shot. Ferrer made it a two goal game once again with 3:32 left with two successful free position shot of her own. Junior attacker Jennifer O' Leary (East Meadow, N.Y. / East Meadow High School) found a wide-open opportunity to score, making the game 12-9 with just under three minutes left. In the final 2:56, the Bears weren't able to create enough opportunities to erase the three goal deficit, as the Hawks won 12-9.

Rodriguez, Paige, and Thacker also had a goal for the Bears. Bovich had two, Purtell and O'Leary had one.

Sophomore goalkeeper Haley Timarky (Centereach, N.Y. / Centereach High School) saved eight shots, while senior goalkeeper Katie Longamore (Dexter, N.Y. / General Brown) saved 16 shots.

The Bears are back in action on Wednesday as they go on the road for a meeting against SUNY Cortland at 3:30.