After winning nine games in a row to begin its season with a perfect start, the 15-6 drumming that the men’s lacrosse team gave to SUNY Potsdam on Saturday would be the last win of its streak after a tough loss to Middlebury College followed on Tuesday.
Versus the Bears, the Red Hawks took an early lead, and were ahead 3-1 by the end of the first period. The men scored four more times in the second, and held on to a 7-4 advantage at the break.
In the second half it was more of the same as the RPI offensive attack continued to perform strong with high intensity, and the defense held Potsdam’s unit at bay. At the end of the regulation the score was 15-6, as the men continued to roll.
On that day, the Red Hawks were led by junior Mike Sampson who had five goals. Classmate PJ McComb added three of his own in addition to five assists. Junior Alex MacDiarmid also played well, dishing out two assists.
Junior John Thibdeau stopped four shots in goal during the first half of play while senior Ryan Michels tallied three stops in the second.
The men returned to action on Tuesday, but this time things would not go as planned. The 13th-ranked Panthers of Middlebury College jumped out to a 4-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, and would keep the same tone for the remainder of the contest.
Three different players tallied two goals each for the Panthers including senior Nick Bastis, sophomore Mike Stone, and junior Rory Sanborn. RPI was led by sophomore Josh Secora and junior Briggs Thompson who both scored once.
With the game, the men’s lacrosse team sees its record tarnished by a lone loss, as their record now stands at a very impressive 9-1 on the year. The men have just four games remaining on their schedule, and will look to return to their winning ways in the coming weeks as they look to head straight for the playoffs.
RPI will return to the field on Saturday when they take on St. Lawrence home at Harkness Field, a 12 pm start. The Saints are 8-1 on the season, and will provide plenty of competition.
