POTSDAM, N.Y. – Sebastian Geiger had a game-best four points to the lead the Clarkson University men's lacrosse team to an 11-8 victory over 10th-ranked Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), on Saturday afternoon at Hantz Field. With the win, the Golden Knights improve to 10-2 overall (1-2 Liberty League), while the Engineers drop to 9-2 (3-1 Liberty League).

A tightly contested opening half saw both teams hold one-goal leads. The Golden Knights scored the opening goal just over two minutes in, before the Engineers answered with two straight – by Rhys Zoldi and Luke Murphy – to take a 2-1 lead before five minutes were gone in the quarter.

RPI held its one-goal advantage until 2:34 left in the first, when Tyler Hall tied the game for the hosts. Three minutes into the second, Geiger gave the Golden Knights lead back at 3-2.

The two teams then traded goals for the rest of the half, giving Clarkson a 5-4 lead, after Christian Canino tallied with 1:05 on the clock.

Murphy knotted the score at 5-5 less than a minute into the third, but Clarkson then rattled off the longest scoring run of the game for either side, scoring three in a row to take an 8-5 lead with 1:23 to play in the third. Geiger netted his second of the contest to cap the rally.

Trey Froehlich and Zoldi kept the Engineers within striking distance, with Zoldi taking a feed from Murphy to draw within 9-7 with 9:24 left in regulation.

After seven minutes with either team finding the back of the net, Geiger and Connor Borchardt buried insurance goals for the hosts.

Tyler Nalls scored with two seconds left for the Engineers, bringing the game to its final tally.

Aiding Geiger offensively for the hosts was Thomas Fiebich (2 assists), Hall (1 goal, 1 assist) and Canino (2 goals). Murphy led the Engineers with two goals and one assist, while Connor Glosner (1 goal, 1 assist) and Zoldi (2 goals) chipped in two points apiece.

Engineers freshman goalie Joseph Perry finished with 15 saves, while Jacob Mattice had 13 stops in picking up the win for the Golden Knights.

RPI is back in action next Saturday, when it hosts area-rival and fourth-ranked Union College at East Campus Stadium (1pm). Clarkson visits third-ranked RIT on Saturday (12pm).