OSWEGO, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men’s lacrosse team (5-4, 1-1 SUNYAC) was defeated 8-6 in a hard fought State University of New York Athletic Conference contest at Oswego on Wednesday afternoon. Connor Khammar scored a game-high four goals to pace the Lakers and senior captain Ryan Paparella had two goals and an assist to lead the Bears.

Cody Hoose and Khammar each scored to give Oswego (8-2, 1-2) an early 2-0 advantage. Paparella, sophomore attackman Rob Kunz and junior attackman Kyle Nicholas each answered to give Potsdam its only lead at 2:19 of the first quarter. Brandon Dzwonkowski knotted the score at 3-3 with seven seconds left in the opening period. Khammar scored the only two markers of the second 15 minutes and the Lakers led 5-3 at the break.

Junior attackman Ryan McConnell closed the gap to 5-4 just 24 seconds into the fourth quarter, but Khammar notched his fourth at 14:04. Paparella buried his second at 5:15 and the Bears trailed just 6-5. Matt Palmer struck on the man-advantage at the 1:26 mark to give Oswego a 7-5 lead after three quarters. Casey Balzer scored at 13:22 to give the Lakers their only three-goal advantage of the afternoon. Senior attackman Peter Pike got Potsdam to within 8-6 with 10:30 remaining, but the Bears got no closer.

In goal, senior Mike Quinlan made 10 saves and allowed all eight goals in 58:13, while junior Stefan Sloma didn’t face a shot on goal in the final 1:47. Oswego goalie Ian O’Brian stopped 11 shots for the victory.

The Lakers outshot the Bears 30-26 and collected 25 ground balls to Potsdam’s 21.

The Bears are back home to host Oneonta at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 14.