Potsdam, N.Y.- Madelynn Barnum connected for five goals on the day as the Clarkson University Women's Lacrosse team snuck past Nazareth University, Friday afternoon at Hantz Field, in a game moved up from Saturday. 

The Golden Knights move to a 2-0 record for the new season, while Nazareth falls to 1-1. Clarkson will travel to Oneonta on Wednesday for another non-league matchup. 

After the first goal of the game by Barnum a little over three minutes in, the Golden Flyers would take control, rattling off three consecutive goals all in less than a minute and a half to take a 3-1 lead. The Golden Knights managed to cut the deficit to one as a goal by Brooklynne Perrigo brought the score back to 3-2 headed into the second quarter of play. 

Clarkson would do their best to give Nazareth a taste of their own medicine after the first break with two back-to-back goals of their own courtesy of Makenna Cassin with a man-up advantage and Barnum, halfway through the quarter. Not to be outdone, the Golden Flyers would then connect for two more goals, retaking the advantage on the scoreboard before another goal from Barnum with less than 45 seconds remaining in the half knotted things up at 5-5. 

As the second half unfolded, it was almost a carbon copy of the first with both teams struggling to gain an advantage and build upon a significant lead in the game. Another goal from Barnum provided the Golden Knights with the first lead of the half, just over two minutes in before  a goal from Sophia Scialdone from Nazareth less than a minute later kept the game tied at 6-6. Back-to-back goals from Perrigo and Barnum gave Clarkson their first two-goal advantage of the contest about halfway into the third quarter of action while another Golden Flyer goal, this time with 33 seconds on the clock brought the advantage back to one goal for Clarkson while keeping things in reach for the visitors. 

Clarkson would waste no time in restoring that two-goal advantage as Makenna Cassin produced the ninth tally for the Golden Knights just 44 seconds into the final quarter. Sydney Nakas would provide the Green and Gold with the biggest lead of the day of three goals as her "man-up" goal pushed the lead to 10-7 in favor of the Knights. Just over a minute later, Scialdone would connect on another tally of her own as the Golden Flyers just would not let Clarkson out of their reach. With around five minutes remaining in the contest, Nazareth would have a golden opportunity to potentially tie the game as the Golden Flyers would have a man-up  advantage following a green card on Clarkson. Makenna Misiurewicz weaved through the defense and slotted a shot into the Clarkson goal to cut the lead to 10-9 in favor of the Golden Knights. Following the goal, a yellow card on the Golden Knights meant that the visitors would again be a man-up on the ensuing faceoff. Winning the faceoff was another problem in itself for the Golden Flyers as Barnum managed to win the faceoff and keep the ball in the Nazareth defensive zone. After some excellent time management Cassin connected for her second goal of the quarter, this time a man-down with less than five minutes remaining. Barnum would again show her quality winning the next draw control for the Knights and allowing the game to return to even-strength. Another man-up goal from Nazareth with just three seconds remaining cut the lead back to 11-10 where it would finish. 

Clarkson would hold the advantage in shots on goal, 26-17, and ground balls, 21-16, while also registering a perfect 15-15 on clear attempts. 

Barnum would add three assists to go along with her goals, while Cassin and Perrigo provided three and two goals of their own, respectively. Nakas collected four ground balls for the Golden Knights. In goal, Jennaca McGill went the distance for her second win of the season, notching seven saves while Allie Klestinec was credited with 15 in the effort for Nazareth.