PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State women's lacrosse team opened its week with a midweek matchup against Potsdam, looking to earn its first State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) victory, but fell in a tight 11-8 loss at home at the Field House Soccer/Lacrosse Complex. Junior attacker Ellie Macdonald (Burlington, Vt. / Burlington) led the Cardinals with three goals.

Senior attacker Cynthia Barnosky (Shirley, N.Y. / William Floyd) and sophomore attacker Ashley O'Hara (Chittenango, N.Y. / The Hill School) each recorded three points, with Barnosky tallying three assists and O'Hara adding a goal and two assists. Sophomore attacker Brooke Terry (Massena, N.Y. / Massena Central) contributed two goals. On the defensive end, senior Ava Parsons (Vestal, N.Y. / Vestal) delivered a standout performance, posting career- and game-highs with five caused turnovers and four ground balls. First-year goalie Aimee Lieman (Fair Lawn, N.J. / Fair Lawn) made 11 saves in net for Plattsburgh.

For the Bears, Jayla Thompson and Megan MacWilliams each finished with a game-high four points on three goals and one assist. Iohseriio Tabor led all players with four draw controls, while Olivia Minarich earned the win in goal with several saves.

Potsdam held a slight advantage in shots, 29-22, and edged Plattsburgh in draw controls, 11-10, while also leading in ground balls, 20-15. Both teams struggled on free-position opportunities, with the Cardinals going 0-for-3 and the Bears 0-for-2. Plattsburgh finished 17-for-20 on clears, while Potsdam went 16-for-23.

The Cardinals struck first midway through the opening quarter, as Barnosky connected with a cutting Macdonald for a one-timer, giving Plattsburgh a 1-0 lead with 8:14 remaining. Nearly a minute later, the Cardinals added to their advantage when Abby Guasconi (Ogdensburg, N.Y. / Ogdensburg Free Academy) spun past her defender and finished low to make it 2-0. Potsdam answered late in the quarter to cut the deficit to 2-1 heading into the second quarter.

Potsdam carried that momentum into the second quarter, tying the game at 2-2 with 13:35 to play before Plattsburgh responded with another goal from Macdonald to take a 3-2 lead at 9:06. After the teams traded goals again, the Cardinals held a 4-3 advantage, but a three-goal run to close the half gave Potsdam a 6-4 lead at the break.

Plattsburgh answered in the second half with back-to-back goals to even the score at 6-6 with 8:33 to go. The Bears responded by rebuilding a two-goal advantage at 8-6, but Dickinson halted the run with a direct drive to the cage, finishing on the doorstep to cut into the deficit. However, Potsdam added a late goal to send the Cardinals into the final quarter trailing 9-7.

The Bears added two more goals in the fourth quarter to stretch their lead to 11-7 with 4:15 remaining. Macdonald responded with a goal off a feed from Barnosky, but the Cardinals were unable to close the gap, ultimately falling 11-8.

Plattsburgh State falls to 2-9 (0-5 SUNYAC) and returns to action on Saturday, Apr. 11, hosting Oswego State for a 12 p.m. opening draw. The Cardinals will honor six seniors before the contest as part of Senior Day.