The Clarkson University Men’s Lacrosse team showed that it can play with the best in the country when it battled national powerhouse Cortland State in a close game on Saturday afternoon. The Golden Knights, however, could not overcome a sluggish second-quarter effort as the second-ranked Red Dragons held off the Green and Gold for a 13-11 win in Sylvan Lake Park in Sanford, FL.

The first game to open the spring break trip down south started out well enough for Clarkson with the Knights jumping out to a 4-1 lead after the first 15 minutes. Cortland, however, overwhelmed Clarkson in the second quarter outscoring the Knights 8-1 to grab a 9-5 lead at the half.

After trading two goals apiece in the third quarter for an 11-7 Cortland lead after 45 minutes, Clarkson rallied in the final frame outscoring the 2008 NCAA Championship runner-up Red Dragons 4-2. But it wasn’t enough as the Green and Gold fell short in their bid for a third straight victory.

Senior attackman Tom Ross (Adams, NY) led Clarkson with four goals, while classmate Greg Gibbons (Baldwinsville, NY) tallied three goals and two assists. Senior defenseman Andrew Kott (Auburn, NY) picked up a game-high 11 groundballs for the Knights.

Brandon Misiaszek led the Red Dragons with a career-high four goals.

The Red Dragons (4-0) held big advantages in shots, 43-28, and ground balls, 53-43, in the game and outscored Clarkson, 2-0, in man-up situations.

Senior John Svoren (Hamburg, NY) made 13 saves for the Knights.

Clarkson (2-1) will play Geneseo State in Florida on Tuesday.

Cortland 13, Clarkson 11

GAME SUMMARY:

Team                         1-2-3-4    Final

Cortland (4-0)      1-8-2-2    13

Clarkson (2-1)             4-1-2-4       11

Scoring (Goals-Assists):

Cortland: Brandon Misiaszek 4-0, Mike Tota 3-1, Chris DeLuca 3-0, Greg Wright 1-1, Tom Burke 1-0, Brian Krol 1-0, Jay DiStefano 0-4, Joey Morgan 0-1

Clarkson: Tom Ross 4-0, Greg Gibbons 3-2, Bryan Huff 1-1, Jon Cathcart 1-1, Tyler Long 1-0, Erik Hilfinger 1-0, Brian Hoey 0-1

Goalkeepers:

Cortland: Matt Hipenbecker, 9 saves (11 GA in 60:00)

Clarkson: John Svoren, 13 saves (13 GA in 60:00)

Shots: Cortland 43, Clarkson 28

Ground Balls: Cortland 52, Clarkson 43

Clears: not available

Faceoffs Won: Cortland 19, Clarkson 8

Penalties: not available

Extra-Man Offense: Cortland 2-4, Clarkson 0-5