NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's lacrosse team claimed a 12-11 win against Sewanee this afternoon in the first day of action at the Music City Classic in Nashville.

Cooper Manzi posted a team-high four points on two goals and two assists, while Tyler Ruffini finished with three points (one goal, two assists) and Sean Smith scored twice.

Easton Morse and Ryan Sweet added two points apiece (one goal, one assist), and Bryce Allen dished out two assists as the Engineers placed 10 different players in the scoring column.

After Sewanee built a 5-1 lead early in the second quarter, the Engineers chipped away late in the half when Morse finished a Sweet feed with six seconds remaining to make it 5-2 at the break.

RPI flipped the contest in a pivotal third quarter, outscoring the hosts 7-4 to take a 9-9 tie into the final period. Nolan Lawler started the rally with an unassisted goal at 11:23, before Ruffini (assisted by Morse) and Teag Hilkewich (man-up, assisted by Ruffini) scored 33 seconds apart to pull the Engineers even at 5-5.

TJ Wakely then gave RPI its first lead since the opening quarter, finishing a Manzi assist at 8:21 to make it 6-5.

The teams traded swings down the stretch of the third. Sewanee moved in front 9-8 with 40 seconds left, but Smith answered with eight seconds remaining, finishing a Ruffini helper, to knot the game at 9-9 heading to the fourth.

Sewanee again struck first in the final quarter to go ahead 10-9, but RPI responded with consecutive goals to regain the edge. Sweet tied it at 11:42 (from Manzi) and Michael Kline put the Engineers back in front less than a minute later on a feed from Allen.

After the Tigers evened the contest at 11-11 with 6:12 left, RPI delivered the decisive play at 3:46 when Jackson Massaroni finished another Allen feed for the eventual game-winner.

RPI held advantages in shots (45-41) and ground balls (41-36), and the defense got strong efforts from Ben Shocket and Morse, who collected a team-high six ground balls each.

Will Roberson caused three turnovers, and the Engineers combined for 15 saves on the day, splitting time in goal between Hunter Sullivan and Jake Lunati.

RPI continues its weekend in Nashville with an afternoon tilt versus Rhodes tomorrow. Start time is set for 12pm CT / 1pm ET.