Box Score Watch (RPI TV)

TROY, N.Y. - Clarkson University scored four straight goals in the fourth quarter to turn a two-goal deficit into a two-goal lead and the Golden Knights held off Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 8-7, in a Liberty League men's lacrosse matchup at East Campus Stadium. Clarkson improves to 5-3 overall and 1-1 in the league, while the Engineers fall to 5-4 and 1-1. The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for Rensselaer.

Trailing 6-4 with 10 minutes to go in the fourth quarter, the Golden Knights got two unassisted goals from senior Brandon Shearin (Goffstown, NH) sandwiched between markers by Robert Lindner (Marcellus, NY) and sophomore Corey Herrington (Camillus, NY) for an 8-6 advantage. The scoring streak started at 9:15 and concluded at 3:06. Rensselaer pulled to within a goal with 1:56 left on the clock on Brett Overend's (Laguna Hills, CA / Laguna Hills) third goal of the game, but the Engineers could not tie the game.

Senior Ryan Cole (Orchard Park, NY) finished with 11 saves for the win, while James Manchester (Niskayuna, NY / Niskayuna), also a senior, finished with six saves.

The first half was low scoring, with only three shots finding the back of the net. Clarkson took an early lead just 1:08 into the game on an unassisted goal by Shearin. RPI tied the score 2:52 into the second quarter when senior David Hey's (Chapel Hill, NC / Durham Academy) shot from 12 yards out hit off the goalie and across the line. Freshman Patrick Finn (North Easton, MA / Thayer Academy) assisted on the goal, Hey's ninth of the season. The Golden Knights regained the lead eight minutes later when Herrington struck for his ninth of the season.

The Engineers came out in the third quarter and scored the first three goals of the second half for a 4-2 lead. Overend scored off a turnover at 13:28 to tie the score and sophomore Colin Fortuner (Litchfield, CT / The Master's School) tallied after corralling a ground ball at 11:03. Overend then set up classmate Eric Valero (Princeton Jct., NJ / W. Windsor Plainsboro) at the 10-minute mark for the two-goal advantage.

Clarkson battled back with the next two goals for a 4-4 tie. Junior Peter Goss (Jamesville, NY) scored with 2:13 left in the third quarter and sophomore face-off specialist Dylan Broomfield (Clinton, NY) tied the game immediately after winning the fourth quarter faceoff. The goal was the first of the year for Bloomfield. Overend and Valero scored within a minute of each other for a 6-4 lead.

The Golden Knights started their comeback on a quick catch-and-shoot goal on the doorstep from Linder. Herrington had the assist on the play.

Shearin finished with three goals, while Herrington had two goals and an assist for the Golden Knights, who won 13 of 19 faceoffs, all by Broomfield.

Overend had three goals and an assist to lead RPI, which hosts league foe Skidmore College on Wednesday at 4pm. Clarkson in next in action on the same day at the same time against SUNY Oswego.