POTSDAM, N.Y.—Hartwick College (3-1) used big second and third quarters to defeat the SUNY Potsdam men's lacrosse team (1-3) 17-8 in the Bears' home opener on Saturday afternoon. Junior captain Josh Huiatt (Lisbon, N.Y./Hugh C. Williams) had two goals and two assists to pace Potsdam, while senior attackman Sean Coe (Balwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) added three goals and senior midfielder Kyle Smith (Theresa, N.Y./Indian River) chipped in two assists. Hawks freshman attackman and Hogansburg native Kainen Francis-Thompson (Hogansburg, N.Y./Massena) led all scorers with five goals and an assist.

Potsdam led twice in the opening quarter. Coe opened the scoring with a helper from Huiatt at 13:24, but Hartwick junior midfielder Nick Couvaris (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) countered at 12:08. The Bears made the most of their first man-up opportunity at 8:58 as Huiatt finished a feed from Smith to give Potsdam a 2-1 lead. However, Francis-Thompson scored twice in a 52-second span (1:54 and 1:02) to give the Hawks the lead for good at the end of the first quarter.

Hartwick seized control of the contest in second quarter with five goals. Francis-Thompson scored twice more, but the Hawks also got markers from senior attackman Sam Ferguson (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin), sophomore midfielder Tim Watson (Wrentham, Mass./King Philip Regional) and senior defender Garrision Wojtas (Hauppauge, N.Y./Hauppague). Hartwick led 8-2 at the half.

The Hawks didn't let up in the third quarter with seven more strikes from seven different scorers. Ferguson, Francis-Thompson, Watson, Wojtas and Couvaris all added to their totals for the day and junior midfielder Mike Majchrzak (Plantsville, Conn./Southington) and junior attackman David Demand (Chittanango, N.Y./Chittenango) each got into the scoring column. Hartwick held a 15-2 advantage after 45 minutes.

After freshman midfielder Dylan Ferguson Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin) netted the Hawks 16th marker of the contest, Potsdam's offense got rolling. The Bears closed the game on a 6-1 run. At 6:27, freshman midfielder Alec Miller (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville South) scored on a long shot to spark Potsdam. Huiatt then set up freshman attackman Ryan Spaman's (Ogdensburg, N.Y./Ogdensburg Free Academy) first collegiate goal at 4:54. Smith assisted on a goal from freshman attackman Cam Talcott (Potsdam, N.Y./Potsdam) 16 seconds later. Huiatt scored Potsdam's third goal in 27 seconds at 4:17. Hartwick junior attackman Wyatt Long (Hardwick, N.J./Blair Academy) briefly slowed the momentum with the Hawk's 17th and final goal at 3:09, but Coe scored with 30 seconds left on an assist from senior midfielder Jude Fusilli (Watertown, N.Y./Immaculate Heart) and again with 12 ticks on the clock for the 17-8 final.

Bears senior captain Zach Sheridan (Clay, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) allowed 16 goals and made 15 saves in the first 51:40 and sophomore goalie Mike Nowak (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport) allowed a goal in the last 8:20. Hawks junior goalie C.J. Alesandrini (Schenectady, N.Y./Colonie) allowed two goals and made five saves in the opening 52:28 to earn the win. Freshman Jared Tiong-Smith (Baldwin, N.Y./Balwin) was roughed up in the final 7:32, allowing six goals and making one save.

Junior faceoff specialist Luke Vitale (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield Ludlow) won 12 faceoffs and collected a team-high eight ground balls.

The Bears look to bounce back when they host Morrisville State at 3 p.m. next Saturday.