PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Heading down the stretch in the regular season, it was imperative for the Plattsburgh State men's lacrosse team to obtain a big-time triumph, regain their confidence and head in to their final pair of SUNYAC tilts with a full head of steam.

After staking another opponent to a big lead, the Cardinals - and Brendan Damm - knocked off the rust and gathered the momentum they were so desperately seeking. 

Damm, a junior, served as the driving force behind a Plattsburgh State comeback by pumping in three of his game-best five goals in the second quarter and Austin Belz added another three scores for the Cardinals who downed Clarkson 14-10 under the lights at the Field House Lacrosse Complex on Wednesday night.

Taking part in their final non-conference game of the regular season, the Cardinals outscored the Golden Knights 7-2 in the second 15-minute frame and upped their record to 10-5 while dropping their North Country rivals to 5-6.

Withstanding a 41-shot attack in net for Plattsburgh State was three-time SUNYAC Goalie of the Week Matt Massaria who made 18 saves in 60 minutes of action. James Read also enjoyed a highly effective evening on the offensive strike by amassing four points (one goal, game-high three assists).

Although they earned the win, the Cardinals appeared stagnant in the early goings of the non-league battle. Clarkson's Ryan DaRin beat Massaria on two occasions while Ryan St. Croix and Matthew Gold added a goal and an assist each to give the Golden Knights a 4-1 lead over Plattsburgh State after the first quarter.

Dylan Hrebenach put the Cardinals in a four-goal hole when he made it 5-1 with an unassisted rip 1:13 into the second. From there, though, Plattsburgh State's offense struck quickly and often to give the home team the lead for good.

Over a span of 10:20, the Cardinals maintained an unrelenting assault on Clarkson netminder Nick Strandholm and struck pay dirt seven times through that stretch. Freshman Ryan Hubbard got things going with his only score of the game off an assist from senior Jack Felter.

Damm, Belz and Read each pumped in one score each between another goal from Gold to pull the Cardinals within 6-5 but the home team wasn't finished up yet. Damm, who hails from Montauk, N.Y., threw in another two goals which were sandwiched around Belz's second which put the Cardinals ahead for good.

Ahead 8-6 at the half, the Cardinals saw St. Croix carve that lead in half when he beat Massaria with an unassisted score 1:24 into the third quarter. Damm, though, returned the favor just 12 seconds later when he added his fourth of the night with a hard-driving move that started at the back of the Golden Knights' cage.

That score kicked off a 4-0 Plattsburgh State run in which freshman Andrew Sofroniou blasted the game-winner past Strandholm by way of an assist from Matt Renko. Belz capped the run with the Cardinals' only man-up strike of the game after getting a feed from Read.

Leading 12-7, Plattsburgh State saw the Golden Knights trim the edge to just three with two scores in the last 7:40 of the third. Fortunately, the Cardinals began the fourth with a rare scoring push from senior Andrew Tralongo. After Massaria delivered a long clear attempt down field to no one in particular, Read tracked down the ground ball and fed Tralongo who beat Strandholm from in close.

Damm sealed the deal with his fifth of the game – a goal which came with 3:46 remaining.

Joey Kromer went 14-of-27 in the faceoff circle and scooped up six ground balls. Andy Krolczyk hauled in a game-high seven ground balls and the Cardinals outshot the Golden Knights 45-41.

Currently sitting in a tie for fourth place in the SUNYAC, the Cardinals must now turn their attention to improving their league standing. On Saturday afternoon, Plattsburgh State will embark on a westward excursion to do battle with Oswego State in their first of two remaining regular season tilts. The first face off is scheduled for 1 p.m.