Saratoga Springs, N.Y. - Jack Metzler and Brendan Halloran each netted a hat trick, propelling Skidmore College to a 9-7 win over Clark University in non-league lacrosse action on Saturday afternoon at a rainy Wachenheim Field.

With the win, the Thoroughbreds improve to 2-4, while the Cougars were denied the program's first-ever 4-0 start and now sit at 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 (Amherst, Mass.) and Will Mandracchia (Melrose, Mass.) led the Scarlet and White with two goals apiece, while Nick Johnson (Amherst, Mass.) chipped in with a goal two assists.

The Cougars struck first, as Rob Holden (East Longmeadow, Mass.) 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 then Trachtenberg gave the Thoroughbreds their first lead with 3:14 to play in the first quarter.

Clark evened the contest in the waning seconds of the period, as Bass potted his first of the game with ten seconds left in the frame.

The second quarter was dominated by defense with the teams managing a goal each. Johnson restored the Cougars lead with 5:18 remaining before 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 period, driving to the cage and finishing from in close and Halloran scored back-to-back goals to give Skidmore a 6-3 lead.

Clark finally got on the board after a long drought when Mandracchia's first of the game cut the Cougar 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 Christiansen (Seattle, Wash.) saw his original shot was denied by Thoroughbred netminder Chris Baughan.

Skidmore bumped its lead back to three goals with two goals in 43 seconds. First, Metzler completed his hat trick with a man-up goal and that was followed by Halloran adding 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 (Wantagh, N.Y.)  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 (Northville, Mich.) stopped 17 shots for Clark.

Another road game awaits the Cougars as they travel to Salve Regina for a 5:00 p.m. faceoff with the Seahawks on Wednesday.