SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's lacrosse team saw its Liberty League opener slip away in a 16-12 setback at Skidmore this afternoon at Wachenheim Field.

Sean Smith and Bryce Allen each scored a team-high three goals to pace the Engineers, while Cooper Manzi and Tyler Ruffini added two goals apiece. Smith and Allen also finished with four points each, as Smith added an assist and Allen contributed one helper. RPI received additional scoring from Michael Kline and Andrew Childs, and Easton Morse added an assist as five different Engineers recorded an assist on the day.

RPI came out sharp, scoring three of the first four goals to grab a 3-1 lead. Smith opened the scoring 17 seconds into the contest, Manzi followed at 12:41 off a Smith feed, and Allen answered a Skidmore goal with an unassisted finish at 11:28.

Skidmore rallied to even the contest at 3-3, but Kline delivered a late first-quarter response, finishing a Morse setup with 56 seconds remaining, to send the Engineers to the second with a 4-3 edge.

Skidmore tied the game early in the second and then used a stretch of four goals in a five-minute span to move in front 7-5. RPI answered to keep the game within reach, getting a Manzi goal at 5:58 and a Ruffini finish (assisted by Allen) three minuets later to close the half within one, 8-7.

The Engineers battled back in the third. After Skidmore pushed the margin to 9-7, Smith converted a man-up goal at 12:40 to pull RPI back within one. The teams continued to trade, and RPI finally knotted the game at 10-10 when Smith scored with 5:31 left in the quarter. Skidmore responded with two late tallies, however, to carry a 12-10 lead into the fourth.

Skidmore struck early in the final period to extend the advantage to three, but RPI made another push. Childs scored at 13:04 and Allen added his third goal two minutes later to cut the deficit to 13-12. Skidmore answered immediately with back-to-back goals in a seven-second span, and the hosts tacked on a late man-up finish to close out the 16-12 decision.

In goal, Hunter Sullivan and Jake Lunati combined for nine saves, with Sullivan making four stops in the opening 35:18 and Lunati recording five saves over the final 24:42.

The Engineers return to ECAV Stadium for their next three contests, beginning with a 12:00 pm meeting with Union next Saturday.