SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—Cody Legeza scored three goals and two ground balls to lead the Skidmore College men's lacrosse team to a 9-7 non-conference win over Clark College Wednesday night at Wachenheim Field.
 
The Thoroughbreds even their record at 1-1, while the Cougars drop to 1-2.
 
In addition to Legeza, six other players scored solo goals, with freshman Will Lukas contributing two assists, two caused turnovers, and a team-high five ground balls.
 
Brandon King and Jack Pierce each had two goals and an assist for Clark.
 
The Cougars jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on goals by Pierce (14:18) and Chris Rasco (12:13).  The Thoroughbreds settled down and tied it 2-2 on goals by R. J. Caruso and Brendan Halloran. Lukas set-up Caruso's goal at 5:43, while Halloran found an opening for his tying goal at 2:31.
 
Skidmore took its first lead of the game 32 seconds into the second quarter when Lukas forced a turnover and quickly got the ball to Chris Melligon who one timed it for his first goal of the season.   
 
Clark regained the lead, 4-3,  on goals a minute apart from Isaac Bass and Andrew Myhre. Will Stricker tied it for the Thoroughbreds with 1:50 left in the second quarter with his first collegiate goal. A late Cougar turnover led to a Skidmore timeout, that led to Legaza's first goal of the game and a 5-4 lead with 23 seconds left in the half.
 
King's man-up goal at 12:39 of the third, tied it 5-5. The Thoroughbreds countered again when Legeza converted his own rebound for a man-up goal at 8:29. Justin Csenge made it a 7-5 game from Jack Metzler at 4:35. Skidmore successfully killed off three simultaneous penalties late in the quarter to keep the two-goal lead.
 
In the fourth, Clark cut it to 7-6 on Pierce's second goal at 12:08. Jack Curry maneuvered into open space and fired one over Cougar goalie Drew Riopelle-Tyrrel's shoulder for an 8-6 advantage at 10:40. Legeza made it 9-6 when he pulled out of a shot, reloaded, then hit the back of the net for his third of the game with 8:50 to play.
 
King scored off the ensuing faceoff win by Bobby Philbin, but Skidmore's defense shut the Cougars down the rest of the way for the 9-7 win.
 
The Thoroughbreds out shot Clark 44-25. Chris Baughan had seven saves in net for the win. Riopelle-Tyrrel finished with 19 saves for the Cougars.
 
Skidmore travels to Plattsburgh on March 4 for a 1 p.m. contest.