Box Score SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.-Sophomore attackman Jack Metzler and freshman attackman Brendan Halloran each netted a hat trick, propelling the Skidmore College men's lacrosse to a 9-7 win over Clark, Saturday afternoon at Wachenheim Field.

The Thoroughbreds improve to 2-4, while the Cougars go to 3-1.

Metzler had five points on the day, also adding two assists. Josh Trachtenberg and Cody Legeza each had a goal and an assist and RJ Caruso produced a pair of assists.

Isaac Bass and Will Mandracchia led Clark with two goals apiece. Nick Johnson chipped in with a goal two assists.

The Cougars struck first, as Rob Holden took a feed from Johnson and converted from close range. Metzler answered back for Skidmore with his first of the contest, bouncing home a long range shot from the right wing and Trachtenberg gave the Thoroughbreds their first lead with 3:14 to play in the first quarter. Clark struck in the dying seconds of the period, as Bass potted his first of the game with :10 to play.

The second quarter was dominated by defense with the teams managing a goal each. Johnson restored the Cougars lead with 5:18 remaining before Cody Legeza tied it at 3-3, converting on a Skidmore man-up opportunity.

The Thoroughbreds carried the momentum into the third quarter, opening the second half with three unanswered goals. Metzler scored 52 seconds into the stanza, driving to the cage and finishing from in close and Halloran scored back-to-back goals to give Skidmore a 6-3 lead. Mandracchia's first of the game cut the Clark deficit to two heading into the fourth quarter.

Bass brought the Cougars back within one with 13:23 left in regulation, scoring on a rebound after Peter Christansen's original shot was denied by Thoroughbreds netminder Chris Baughan. Skidmore restored its three-goal cushion with two goals in 43 seconds. Metzler completed his hat trick with a man-up goal and Halloran added his third of the contest with 10:10 to play.

Clark continued to battle back, cutting the Thoroughbreds lead to 8-6 behind an Ian Daly man-up goal, but Ian Maag gave Skidmore some more breathing room with a wrap-around goal with just under six minutes left. Mandracchia scored his second of the game with :48 seconds to play to make it 9-7, but that's as close as the Cougars would get.

Skidmore outshot Clark 42-22 and owned a 32-22 advantage in groundballs. The Thoroughbreds were 2-5 on man-up opportunities, while the Cougars were 1-4. Baughan finished with eight saves in goal for Skidmore, while Drew Riopelle-Tyrell stopped 17 shots for Clark.

"I'm proud of our guys," said Skidmore head coach Patrick Hart. "It was a great team effort with a lot of different guys making big plays at different times throughout. Clark is a very well-coached, very good team and we knew that we would have to play well to get a win. I think the difference in the game was our ability to win ground balls in the middle of the field and earn extra possessions. If we continue to play with the same level of emotion as we did today I'm excited about what we can accomplish."

The Thoroughbreds take on Kean University in Virginia Beach, Va. Wednesday, March 18. The game is slated for 2 p.m.