POTSDAM, N.Y. – The nationally ninth-ranked Cortland men's lacrosse team out scored Potsdam, 10-1, in the second half and earned a 15-3 victory in the SUNYAC opener for both schools Saturday afternoon. The Red Dragons improved to 6-3 overall and ended a two-game losing streak, while the Bears fell to 4-3.

Sophomore Zach Hopps (Akwesasne/Massena) matched his career high with six points on a career-best five goals and one assist to lead the Cortland offense as nine different players found the back of the net. Senior Mike Cummings (Syracuse/East Syracuse Minoa) netted a career-high three goals, and senior Nate Garbarino (Binghamton) and sophomore McLaren Brady (Syracuse/Jamesville-DeWitt) each contributed one goal and one assist.

Juniors Benjamin Dunlavey (Elmira/Corning East) and Zach Brownlee (Skaneateles), sophomores Conner Johnston (Homer) and Conor Scavone (Franklin Lakes, NJ/Don Bosco Prep) and freshman Austin Brady (Pickerington, OH/Pickerington North) tallied one goal apiece with Brady's being the first of his career. Freshman Mike Hart (Cornelius, NC/Hough) registered two assists, and freshman Nate Beresovoy (LaFayette) chipped in with one assist.

Junior goalie Scott Tota (Webster/Webster Schroeder) made four saves and surrendered two goals in 49 minutes, 47 seconds for the Red Dragons. Senior Nick Costabile (New Fairfield, CT) allowed one goal over the final 10:13. Sophomore Pat Baldwin (Alpharetta, GA) won 9-of-11 faceoffs and collected a game-high eight ground balls.Junior Billy Davis (Manhasset) won 4-of-4 faceoffs, and sophomore Gino Prestigiacomo (Rochester/Greece Athena) was successful on 3-of-4 faceoffs as Cortland won 18-of-22 overall.

Jon Woodworth recorded a goal and an assist for the Bears with Pat Bonafede and Matt Kennedy each scoring once. Ryan Duffy started in goal, making 14 saves in 50:49, before giving way to Pete Gropp, who stopped two shots in 9:11. Duffy led Potsdam with four ground balls.

The teams were tied, 1-1, at the end of the first quarter on goals by Bonafede at 12:56 and Hopps at 3:33. Dunlavey gave Cortland a brief 2-1 lead early in the second quarter before Woodworth evened the score just over two minutes later. The game became all Cortland's after that point as the Red Dragons notched 13 consecutive goals. Cummings scored a goal and Hopps netted back-to-back goals to close the first half, and the Red Dragons led 5-2.

Cortland then extended the lead to 15-2 with 10 straight goals in the second half. Hopps and Cummings each scored twice during the run, while six others netted one goal apiece. Cortland tallied three goals in the third quarter for an 8-2 advantage and seized control of the game by pouring in seven goals in less than 10 minutes of the fourth quarter. Kennedy ended the run and completed the scoring with an unassisted goal at 3:52 for the 15-3 final.

Cortland 15, Potsdam 3

GAME SUMMARY:

Team 1-2-3-4 Final
Cortland (6-3, 1-0 SUNYAC) 1-4-3-7 15
Potsdam (4-3, 0-1 SUNYAC) 1-1-0-1 3

Scoring (Goals-Assists):
Cortland: Zach Hopps 5-1, Mike Cummings 3-0, Nate Garbarino 1-1, McLaren Brady 1-1, Benjamin Dunlavey 1-0, Zach Brownlee 1-0, Conor Scavone 1-0, Conner Johnston 1-0, Austin Brady 1-0, Mike Hart 0-2, Nate Beresovoy 0-1
Potsdam: Jon Woodworth 1-1, Pat Bonafede 1-0, Matt Kennedy 1-0

Goalkeepers:
Cortland: Scott Tota, 4 saves (2 GA in 49:47), Nick Costabile, 0 saves (1 GA in 10:13)
Potsdam: Ryan Duffy, 14 saves (13 GA in 50:49), Pete Gropp, 2 saves (2 GA in 9:11)

Shots: Cortland 47, Potsdam 21
Ground Balls: Cortland 43, Potsdam 23
Turnovers: Potsdam 19, Cortland 11
Caused Turnovers: Cortland 11, Potsdam 1
Clears: Cortland 15-of-17, Potsdam 12-of-21
Faceoffs Won: Cortland 18, Potsdam 4
Penalties: Cortland 3-2:00, Potsdam 0-0:00
Extra-Man Offense: Potsdam 0-3, Cortland 0-0