GENESEO, N.Y. – For the second straight game, the No. 8 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's lacrosse team put up 19 goals as they defeated SUNY Geneseo by a final score of 19-11. With the win, the Engineers improve to a perfect 3-0 on the season.
 
Tyler Ruffini totaled up a six-point game, scoring two goals and four assists while Luke Murphy added a two-goal, three assist afternoon. The leader in goals was sophomore Sean Smith, as he scored four times in the win.
 
RPI jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first quarter, scoring twice in the opening seven minutes. After Geneseo fought back with a score, RPI scored four in a row in a span just over two minutes as they grew their lead to 6-1.
 
Geneseo held down the RPI offense in the second quarter, as the Engineers scored just once in the frame – a goal from Ruffini with 6:43 on the clock – to book end the first half. RPI held a 7-4 lead at the midway point.
 
The Engineers turned it up in the second half, opening up with three goals in the opening 90 seconds of the third quarter to bring their lead to 10-4. Geneseo stayed within striking distance, pulling within three to make it 10-7 with 7:37 to play in the third. However, goals from Zach Swanson and Evan Whatley brought the Engineers lead back to 12-7 going into the fourth quarter.
 
Geneseo continued to push ahead, once again coming back within three goals – 14-11 – with 6:58 to play in regulation. From that point, RPI ended the game on a 5-0 run that was capped by a goal from Erik Ojert to make it 19-11.
 
For the Knights, Jimmy Atkinson scored three times with an assist to lead Geneseo with four points.
 
The Engineers return to action on Saturday, Feb. 24 when they play host to DeSales University at ECAV Stadium at 1 p.m.