TROY, N.Y. - The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's lacrosse team scored eight consecutive goals between the first and third periods, Angelo Venuto won 15 of 19 face offs, and Joseph Perry made 18 saves as the Engineers defeated No. 18 Muhlenberg College 11-6 in a non-league men's lacrosse game at East Campus Stadium. RPI improves to 3-1 with the win, while the Mules drop to 2-2.

Senior Luke Murphy got the home team on the board first with the first of his two goals just 1:26 into the contest, but Muhlenberg answered with a pair, including a man-up goal by Jack Quinn for a 2-1 lead at the 10:38 mark. RPI's Anthony Mazzella and the Mules' Wyatt Malia traded goals, before a Tyler Ruffini marker started the run for the Engineers.

Just 37 seconds after Malia's tally, Ruffini finished a feed from Cooper Roman at 4:12 to tie the score at 3-3. Sean Smith scored on a strong individual effort 59 seconds later and Cooper Manzi made it 5-3 just 59 seconds into the second quarter. Ruffini (11:07) and Murphy (5:51) put RPI ahead 7-3 before Roman notched his first of two at 4:24 off an assist from Cameron Howley. Drew Teff then set up Manzi with 1:09 to play, earning the helper after picking up a ground ball off a turnover, racing down the field, and finding his teammate, who finished for a 9-3 lead at halftime.

The Engineers had a 29-15 advantage in shots at the break, including 18-9 in shots on goal. RPI also led in ground balls, 28-15, thanks in part to Venuto winning 12 of 14 face offs.

Roman had the first goal of the second half before Jack Kraemer ended Muhlenberg's scoring drought of 30:02 with a goal from Ethan Grossman with 4:47 left in the third quarter. Evan Whatley scored at 8:56 of the fourth for an 11-4 lead. Malia set up Quinn for a man-up goal at 4:50 and Malia notched another one of his own with 55 seconds to play.

Manzi, Roman, and Ruffini each had two goals and an assist, while Smith finished with a goal and an assist. Venuto controlled the X for the Engineers, winning 15 of 19 with 13 ground balls, while Caleb Oswari and Perry both had four pick-ups. Perry finished with 18 saves, including 12 in the second half.

Max May made 14 stops on the other end for the Mules, who had 38 shots (41-38) with 24 on goal (25-24). Malia had three goals and an assist, Quinn scored twice, and Grossman registered two helpers.

RPI won 16 of 20 face offs and led 39-32 in ground balls.