POTSDAM, N.Y.—After having its season opener against Utica postponed last Saturday, the SUNY Potsdam women’s lacrosse team (1-0) didn’t let rain stop them in an 11-8 win at Clarkson University (0-1) on Thursday night. Senior captain Aubrey Macintosh led the Bears with three goals, while senior attack Maribeth Simmons added two goals and an assist and senior captain Carly Richards chipped in a goal and two assists.

Potsdam jumped out to a 6-0 lead over the first 14 minutes of the game. Macintosh started the run with a free position marker at 26:10. Richards struck for her 135th career goal two minutes later and Macintosh added a man-up goal at 21:13. Freshman midfielder Emily Petit notched her first career tally on a free position at 19:38. Junior attack Whitney Boshart and senior attack Sierra Langkammerer netted the next two for the six-goal advantage.

As the rain started to pour, the Golden Knights rallied for their own 5-0 run. Saryn Campbell and Alyssa Cristadi each scored twice and Cassie Grace got Clarkson to within 6-5 at the 3:19 mark. Langkammerer buried her second with 1:53 remaining in the half, but Clarkson’s Katie VanDeValk answered with 13 ticks left. Potsdam carried the 7-6 lead into the half.

Goals by Macintosh, Simmons and Boshart gave the Bears a 10-6 cushion to open the second half. However, the Golden Knights stayed within striking distance with two more goals from VanDeValk. Simmons closed the scoring with a free position goal at 5:10 and Potsdam’s defense held off Clarkson the rest of the way for the 11-8 win.

Bears senior goalie Kaci Milligan made 14 saves for her 11th career victory. Clarkson’s Kara DiNatale allowed five goals and made one save in the first 10:34 and Hannah Walters surrendered six goals and stopped seven shots in the final 49:26.

Richards, who is already Potsdam’s all-time leading scorer, needs just three points to reach the 200-point plateau (135g-62a) and five goals to become Potsdam’s all-time goals leader. With her two goals, Langkammerer moves into a tie for 10th place with Liz Clohessy’08 on the all-time scoring list.

The Bears are 4-1 in their last five meetings with Clarkson.

Next, Potsdam heads to West Palm Beach for three contests. The Bears face Mt. St. Vincent on Monday, March 12, at 11 a.m. Potsdam defeated the Dolphins 7-6 in the teams’ only previous meeting on March 14, 2006.