Geneseo Offense Comes to Life in Win vs. Potsdam

POTSDAM, N.Y. - Geneseo (5-3, 1-1 SUNYAC) broke open a close contest midway through the first half and went on to a 22-9 victory over Potsdam (3-7, 0-3) on Saturday.

Blue Knight sophomore attack Caroline Buonocore (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill) recorded five goals and five assists for a game-high 10 points. Geneseo sophomore midfielder Emily Haggerty (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill) had four goals and five assists and junior midfielder Rachel Petrone (Rochester, N.Y./Penfield) added four goals and an assist.

Potsdam started strong, scoring on its first four attempts to grab two early leads. At 27:05, senior captain Whitney Boshart drew first blood with a low shot that evaded Blue Knight junior goalie Julie Bernaztky (Mt. Sinai, N.Y./Mt. Sinai). Geneseo got the next two goals from Buonocore and sophomore defender Kylie Caesar (Delmar, N.Y./Bethlehem), but senior attack Maribeth Simmons (Clinton, Conn./The Morgan School) knotted the score at 2-2 at 21:31.

Sophomore attack Meredith Weber (Bellport, N.Y./Bellport) put Geneseo back in front 29 seconds later. Freshman midfielder Lina Herrera (Red Hook, N.Y./Red Hook) tied the game at three and senior captain Aubrey Macintosh (Burnt Hills, N.Y.Burnt-Hills Ballston Lake) gave the Bears their final lead 14:42. Geneseo scored the next six in a row and closed the half on a 12-2 run for a 15-6 advantage at the break.

The Blue Knights opened the final 30 minutes with four more before Potsdam sophomore midfielder Caitlin Matalavage interrupted their momentum with a goal a at 14:58 to cut the lead to 19-7. After two more Geneseo goals, junior attack Denise Johns (Syracuse, N.Y./Marcellus) and Simmons struck back-to-back for Potsdam with 7:09 on the clock. Four minutes later Blue Knight sophomore attack Caitlin Lally (Clarence, N.Y./Clarence) capped the scoring at 22-9.

In goal, Bears senior captain Kaci Milligan (Liverpool, N.Y./Bishop Ludden) made 13 saves. Bernatzky finished with four saves in the first 53:05 to earn the victory, while freshman goalie Laura Passamonte (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) stopped all five shots she faced in the final 6:55.

Potsdam continues its home stand Tuesday, April 10, when the Bears host Oswego State at 4:00 p.m.

2012-04-07