POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's lacrosse team (2-1) shook off an early challenge from Utica College (0-3) and pulled away for an 18-9 victory in its home opener on Saturday afternoon. Bears junior midfielder Matt Moran (Watertown, N.Y./Immaculate Heart) had a career day with three goals and three assists, while senior captain Ed Doherty (Amherst, N.Y./Amherst) finished with five points on two goals and three assists. Junior attackman Berkley Stone (Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand) added three goals and sophomore attackman Eric Soderquist (Watertown, N.Y./Watertown) and junior attackman Michael Roukous (Dexter, N.Y./General Brown) each contributed two goals and an assist.

Potsdam got off to a slow start with the Pioneers controlling the ball early. However, it was Roukous breaking the stalemate at 4:59. Nearly three minutes later, Utica freshman attackman Dominic Castiglia (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) tied the game. At 1:38, Moran scored his first on a feed from Doherty to put the Bears up for good and begin a 5-0 run. Potsdam led 2-1 after 15 minutes

Roukous opened the second quarter with goal on a pass from senior captain Pat Bonafede (Churchville, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) at 13:51. Two minutes later, Roukous forced a turnover and fired a pass to a hard charging Soderquist. Soderquist caught the pass in stride and fired a shot behind his back to make it 4-1. Just 40 seconds later, Stone got his first of the game in a man-up situation on a pass from Moran. Doherty capped the run with an assist from senior midfielder Brian Martin (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) and Potsdam led 6-1. Senior attackman Alex Finnegan (Bayshore, N.Y./Islip) slowed momentum with the Pioneers' second goal at 6:41, but Bonafede answered with another man-up tally at 3:20 and Moran made it 8-2 at 2:37. Just when it appeared the Bears might run the Pioneers off the field, Utica countered with a 3-0 run to end the half down just 8-5. Senior attackman Patrick Mulligan (Commack, N.Y./Commack) got Utica's final goal of the half on the man-advantage.

Martin and Pioneer junior midfielder Matthew Miller (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) traded the first goals of the second half, making the score 9-6. The Bears then went on a 7-0 run to put the game away. Stone scored twice in the barrage and Doherty, Soderquist, Bonafede and senior midfielder Matt Kennedy (Clay, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) each found the back of the net once. Potsdam led 15-6 after 45 minutes.

Junior midfielder Casey Boulio (Carthage, N.Y./Carthage) scored his first of the season at 12:53 of the fourth quarter. Utica sophomore Ryan Desveaux (Bowmanville, Ontario/St. Stephen Catholic) and freshman Xavier Perron (Sherbrooke, Quebec/Le Triolet) scored in succession to get the Pioneers within 16-8 with 8:15 remaining. The Bears finished the game by sandwiching goals from Moran and senior attackman Joe Hayes (Black River, N.Y./Carthage) around another from Miller for the 18-9 final.

In goal, senior captain Pete Gropp allowed nine goals and made 12 saves in 56:50 before being relieved by junior Jack Bezek (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) who didn't face a shot. Utica senior goalie Andrew DiOrio (Greenlawn, N.Y./Harborsfield) allowed 15 goals and stopped 10 shots in 45 minutes. Junior Parker Smith (Dexter, N.Y.General Brown) made one save and allowed three goals in the fourth quarter.

The Bears outshot the Pioneers 50-29 and finished with a 46-27 advantage in ground balls. Utica was 1-for-3 on the man advantage and Potsdam went 2-for-7.

The Bears also won 21 of 31 faceoffs, led by a 12-of-18 performance from senior Brandon Grace (Penn Yan, N.Y./Penn Yan). Junior Lucas Canino (Highland, N.Y./Highland) was 6-of-7.

The Bears have a quick turnaround this week as they host Castleton State at 7 p.m. on Wednesday night.