By: Brayden Peters
BROCKPORT, N.Y. - It was a sad day for the Brockport Golden Eagles men’s lacrosse team, as they fell 11-10 to Potsdam in overtime, eliminating them from the playoffs. Potsdam also spoiled Brockport’s senior day, in which 15 seniors were celebrated. Graduate student Nick Askin was one of the players recognized today.
“It’s not the year we wanted,” Askin said. “Coach (Colin) Cornaire has these guys and is bringing in guys that have good culture and they are going to be really good the next couple of years. I have full faith and trust that Coach Cornaire is going to make Brockport an Empire 8 champion.”
The Golden Eagles scored first, thanks to Carson Colucci burying a goal on the crease on the man-up. Less than a minute later, the Bears responded as Drew Rose buried a shot from the hole past goalie Jack Acker to tie things up.
Brockport broke the tie thanks to Nick Askin, who ripped a shot in the top right corner of the net. After Askin’s goal, the game slowed. Brockport’s offense cooled off and couldn’t generate many high-quality scoring chances. As for the Bears, turnovers kept their offense from producing.
Around the halfway mark in the first quarter, Nick Askin scored his second goal of the game, this time in transition, giving the Golden Eagles a 3-1 lead. The Bears cut into it minutes later with Owen Walsh weaving his way through Brockport’s defense, then burying a low-to-low goal at the hole.
The Golden Eagles got out in front to start the second quarter. Marc Zappula was able to score to extend Brockport’s lead early on. Although he has found the back of the net multiple times this season, he has made his presence felt in moving the ball. He has recorded 17 assists this season.
“I don’t think I could’ve done half the stuff I’ve done this year without Marc Zappula,” Nick Askin said. “He’s a freshman, but he doesn’t play like it. He just makes passes where sometimes they make my mouth drop and I can’t make, or not many other guys could make.”
After Zappula’s goal, the Bears woke up. Potsdam scored six unanswered goals to be up 8-4 at the end of the first half. Peyton Walsh scored two of the goals for the Bears and his first goal broke the record for the most career goals in Potsdam’s history.
It was a rough quarter for the Golden Eagles. Brockport gave up three turnovers and was stuck in their defensive zone for most of the quarter. It wasn’t until the last few minutes of the half that they possessed the ball in the offensive zone.
Brockport got their wake-up call in the third quarter. They scored six unanswered goals to give themselves a 10-8 lead with 2:02 left in the quarter. Nick Askin scored four of those goals.
Potsdam struggled as Owen Walsh was kept in check by Brockport’s defense and multiple shots were not on net. Potsdam’s faceoff specialist Drew Costello struggled only winning two out of seven faceoff attempts in the quarter. However, the Bears were able to sneak in one goal from Peyton Walsh before the quarter ended.
It was relatively quiet in the fourth quarter. Both teams couldn’t find the back of the net for more than half of the quarter. Brockport had two man-ups and couldn’t bury any of their shots, thanks to goalie Saka Thompson, who currently has the highest save percentage in all of Division III men’s lacrosse (65.9).
Potsdam was able to tie the game back up, as Tyler Gould buried a shot on the crease after a broken play. Gould’s goal was the last action of the quarter, and the game was sent to overtime.
The Golden Eagles were in a prime position to score the game-winner after winning the faceoff. Despite this, Brockport was not able to get the ball past Thompson, who made two clutch saves in back-to-back possessions. Potsdam only needed one offensive possession to score, as Peyton Walsh got into the hole off an inside roll and stung the bottom right corner.
With the goal, not only did it give Potsdam the 11-10 win, but they also secured the fourth seed and are moving onto the playoffs. Unfortunately for the Golden Eagles, the overtime winner put an end to their playoff hopes and season.
Statistically, it was a perfect way for Nick Askin to finish his final collegiate lacrosse game. He recorded six goals and an assist for seven points.
“I think obviously getting fed the ball by my teammates, beating guys on dodges and finding me open to get good shots was key,” Askin said. “But also, just dodging well and moving around with my legs.”
To end the season, he recorded 63 goals and seven assists for 70 points. With his six goals today, he is also sixth in career goals in Brockport’s history. It was a storybook ending to an already great career for Nick Askin. Not only that, but it will be the last time the Askin brothers play organized lacrosse with each other.
“When he (Nate Askin) fed me that pass and I scored, I was like, ‘This is it,’” Askin said. “At least we got one more connection in our last game and then he hugged me and it got emotional.”
The Golden Eagles ended their season with a 4-11 record and a 2-5 record in SUNYAC play. This is the last season Brockport plays in the SUNYAC as they will play in the Empire 8 Conference next year. They will play familiar conference opponents such as Alfred, St. John Fisher and Nazareth, all of whom Brockport faced earlier this season.
With the number and talent of the departing seniors, Brockport will have questions to answer this offseason about who will be able to fill their shoes.