Potsdam, N.Y. - A goal in each half from the hosts were the only ones that would light up the scoreboard as the Clarkson University Men's Soccer team dropped a non-league contest at SUNY Potsdam, 2-0 on Tuesday evening. 

The Knights move to 6-5-4 overall and wrap up Liberty League play this Saturday, hosting Vassar College on "senior day" at 2 p.m.

Even with Clarkson gaining an early foothold early on with the majority share of possession, the best chances through the opening 10 minutes were presented for the Bears. An early miss-kick in front of goal in the fifth minute of play was followed by a shot from JJ Williams in the seventh that forced Josh Morelli into action for the save. 

Continuing to threaten on the counter attack, Potsdam would find the opener in the 18th minute. Some give and go play in the middle of the field by Jayson Viola and Cristiano Lozier sent Thomas Wendel through on goal from the left side of the penalty box. Wendel took two touches to his right, centering his attack, before dispatching a right-footed rocket into the top right corner of the goal for 1-0. 

The best chance in the opening 45 for the Knights came in the 34th minute off a corner kick. The ball was swung into the near post from the right wing where it was met by Jack Grace with a glancing header that sent the ball just over the crossbar and out of play. 

Clarkson continued to control possession into the second half of play but struggled to create any clear chances in front of goal with Potsdam content to defend and break out quickly upon gaining control of the ball. The Knights constructed several shooting opportunities through the opening eight minutes of play but any open angles were closed down quickly with all three shots being blocked. Thomas Huguenin produced the first shot on goal of the evening for Clarkson in the 56th minute with an effort from 25 yards out that fizzed across the turf into the grasp of Ian Schwartz who was not challenged much. 

As time ticked off the scoreboard, Clarkson began to throw more players forward in an attempt to alleviate the deficit. Even with the ball, the Golden Knight offense continued to fizzle out in the final third as Potsdam continued to get defenders behind the ball in an attempt to see out the remaining minutes. 

Potsdam would come close again in the 84th minute when Lozier struck the crossbar on a freekick before finally adding that sought after second goal in the 87th. Logan Bush managed to chase down a ball over the top of the Clarkson backline before tapping an outside of the foot shot past an onrushing Morelli. The ball rolled across the entire face of goal before striking the right post and bouncing back into the six-yard box where it was smashed home by Andres Arce for the second and final goal of the game. 

Clarkson held the advantage in shots (14-13) and corners (5-1), Potsdam found the target on six of their shots compared to two for the Knights. Morelli made four stops in goal for Clarkson while Schwartz was credited with two for the Bears.