TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's lacrosse team made a statement with their home opener on Saturday afternoon, as the Engineers hung 19 goals – including 11 unanswered to end the game – in a 19-3 victory over Coast Guard. Both Luke Murphy and Tyler Ruffini collected five points on the afternoon.
 
RPI scored two early goals courtesy of Sean Smith and Cooper Roman as they took a 2-0 lead less than five minutes into the game. Coast Guard added their first goal in the final seconds of the first quarter as RPI led 2-1 after the first 15 minutes.
 
The Bears tied things up at the start of the second quarter, with Ian Feely converting to tie things at 2-2. The Engineers scored three unanswered goals from that point to end the half, with Murphy, Evan Whatley, and Anthony Mazzella each scoring to give RPI the 5-2 lead at the half.
 
The Engineers continued their dominance and kicked the offense up a notch in the second half, as they scored another three goals to open the third quarter to pull out to an 8-2 lead. Coast Guard got a goal from Mason LaForte to bring things to 8-3 before RPI shut out the Bears the rest of the way.
 
RPI scored 11 unanswered goals from 8:08 left in the third quarter through the final horn, securing the win to remain undefeated on the young season.
 
Goalie Jospeh Perry made five stops in net, as Murphy, Smith, and Mazzella each scored three goal apiece to lead the offense.
 
The Engineers return to action this Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. when they hit the road to take on SUNY Geneseo.