SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A five-goal third quarter by Skidmore College helped the Thoroughbreds defeat the Plattsburgh State men's lacrosse team, 14-6, on Saturday afternoon at Wachenheim Field in non-conference action.
 
The Cardinals trailed by just one goal at the half, but Skidmore outscored Plattsburgh State, 5-0, in the third to open up an 11-5 lead through 45 minutes of play. While freshman attackman Connor Wolff (Niskayuna, N.Y./Niskayuna) scored just 32 seconds into the fourth quarter to trim the gap to five, the Thoroughbreds scored three unanswered to close the game.
 
Plattsburgh State falls to 1-1 overall with the loss and next visits Clarkson University on Tuesday, March 6, at 4 p.m. Skidmore rises to 2-1 overall with the win and next visits Trinity (Conn.) College on Tuesday, March 6, at 4 p.m.
 
Senior attackman Cody Legeza put Skidmore on the board 12 seconds into the game, scoring on a pass from freshman midfielder Jason Shlonsky. Senior attackman Ryan Hubbard (Aquebogue, N.Y./Riverhead) scored unassisted with 7:34 left in the first quarter to knot the tally at 1-all, while Shlonsky countered with an unassisted marker 17 seconds later. Wolff netted his first career goal as an intercollegiate student-athlete with 1:42 to go in the first quarter to tie the score at 2-all.
 
Sophomore midfielder Kevin Litchauer (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Arlington) tallied on a pass from senior midfielder Billy Moller (Greenlawn, N.Y./Harborfields) 2:11 into the second to give the Cardinals what wound up being their only lead of the game, and senior attackman Brendan Halloran answered back 2:49 later, cashing in on a Legeza feed. Hubbard once again found twine unassisted, doing so midway through the second, while Halloran scored on a pass from junior midfielder Nick DeBlasio with 6:50 left in the second. Legeza put the Thoroughbreds back on top with 5:20 to go in the second quarter before freshman midfielder Justin Wise (Niskayuna, N.Y./Niskayuna) leveled the score with his first career goal as a Cardinal. Legeza got the hat trick 1:07 before halftime and gave the Thoroughbreds a 6-5 edge at the break.
 
Skidmore's game-changing run in the third quarter was started by Legeza 1:40 into the period, as he tallied on a pass from Shlonsky. Halloran completed his hat trick nearly two minutes later, scoring on a helper by senior midfielder Jack Curry, while junior attackman Eric Megnia, Legeza and senior midfielder Ian Maag all scored to extend the lead to 11-5.
 
While Wolff scored unassisted 32 seconds into the fourth quarter, the Thoroughbreds put the game out of reach with three insurance goals to close the contest. Senior attackman R.J. Caruso connected with junior midfielder Colby Farnham 2:20 into the fourth, while Legeza scored his sixth goal of the contest with 5:41 left, capitalizing on a feed from Megnia. Megnia ripped in the final goal of the game with 3:12 remaining in regulation on a Legeza assist.
 
Skidmore finished with a 43-27 edge in shots, but Plattsburgh State held a slight 12-11 cushion in face-off wins. The Cardinals went 10-for-17 on clears, while the Thoroughbreds were 15-for-19 in transition. Both teams went 0-for-5 on extra-man opportunities, and Skidmore held a 29-26 advantage in ground balls.
 
Hubbard and Wolff paced the Cardinals with two goals each, while senior face-off specialist Travis Mauro (Northport, N.Y./Northport) scooped up five ground balls and went 12-for-23 at the X. Senior defenseman Sean Hayes (Levittown, N.Y./Division Avenue) caused two turnovers.
 
For Skidmore, Legeza had an eight-point day on six goals and two assists, while freshman long-stick midfielder Alex Miller controlled five ground balls and junior defenseman Logan Hart caused two turnovers.
 
Senior goalie Austin Graham (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) made 12 saves in the loss for the Cardinals, while senior goalie Chris Baughan turned aside 10 shots in the win for the Thoroughbreds.