Box Score Watch (RPI TV)

TROY, N.Y. - St. Lawrence University (SLU) scored five goals in the fourth quarter - three by sophomore Pierson Fowler - and the #20 Saints defeated Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) by four goals, 9-5, in a critical Liberty League men's lacrosse contest at East Campus Stadium.

SLU improves to 12-1 overall and 4-1 in the league for a share of first place with one game to go. St. Lawrence plays its final league game next Saturday when it hosts nationally-ranked RIT, which is also 4-1 in the conference, at noon.

Rensselaer, playing its final Liberty League game of the season, falls to 9-4 and 3-3. The Engineers need help in order to qualify for the four-team post-season tournament.

Trailing 5-4 entering the final quarter, the Saints tied it on a goal from junior Tucker Garfield (Marblehead, MA/Salisbury School) at 13:08. Fowler then tallied two straight, the game-winner at 12:17 and an insurance goal at 5:46. Senior Matt Pope (Newfields, NH/Exeter) made it 8-5 when he scored through traffic at 4:38 and Fowler notched his fourth of the game with 1:06 left in the four quarter.

The score was tied, 4-4, at halftime.

St. Lawrence opened the scoring with a pair of first quarter goals. Garfield scored unassisted at 13:39 and Fowler did the same 10:14 later for a 2-0 edge.

Senior Paul DiLandro (East Quogue, NY/Westhampton Beach) shaved RPI's deficit in half with a goal at 11:24 of the second quarter, which was the start of three straight markers for the Engineers. Senior Brett Overend (Laguna Hills, CA/Laguna Hills) tied the score at 5:29 and just 15 seconds later junior Eric Valero (Princeton Junction, NJ/West Windsor Plainsboro) put Rensselaer in front for the first time.

Pope answered right back for the Saints, scoring at the 3:40 mark, but Overend put RPI back in front with a goal with 1:01 left in the half. Pope tied the game again, this time on a goal with just 17 seconds remaining.

Senior Jon Yen (Short Hills, NJ/Millburn) started for the Engineers. Sophomore Alex Castronovo (Garden City, NY/Garden City), who made eight saves on 16 shots in the final 58:39, earned the decision. 

Junior Jeff Goeke (Princeton, NJ/Princeton) played the first half for the Saints, making five saves on nine shots. Classmate Jack Nuland (Ridgefield, CT/The Taft School) stopped three of four shots in the second half to earn the victory.

The Saints held a 32-25 edge in shots and 36-29 advantage in ground balls.

Rensselaer returns to action on Wednesday at Plattsburgh State (7pm). It closes the regular season next Saturday in a neutral site game against Lebanon Valley at 3pm.