POTSDAM, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's lacrosse team controlled the second half and pulled away for a 15-9 victory at Clarkson this afternoon.

Cooper Manzi led the way with a team-high six points, finishing with four goals and two assists. Easton Morse added five points on three goals and two assists, while Tyler Ruffini chipped in four points with two goals and two assists. RPI also got goals from Sean Smith, Bryce Allen, Andrew Childs, Ben Shocket, Ian Weihe, and Hayden Wedemeyer.

The game was tight early, with the teams trading runs and ending the first quarter even at 3-3. RPI's offense found a rhythm through the middle of the second, getting back-to-back tallies from Morse and Manzi and a key answer from Shocket to carry a 6-5 lead into halftime.

The decisive stretch came right out of the break. RPI scored on the man-up to open the third and then poured in goals in bunches, turning a one-goal game into a commanding lead with a 7-1 quarter. Manzi and Morse each struck multiple times during the surge, while Childs and Ruffini added unassisted finishes to keep the momentum firmly with the Engineers.

Clarkson made a push in the fourth to cut into the margin, but RPI answered late with a pair of goals from Allen and Weihe to close out the win.

In goal, Hunter Sullivan earned the decision with six saves in the first half, and Jake Lunati finished the day after halftime. RPI also dominated possession throughout, piling up a 60-24 edge in shots and a 57-24 advantage in ground balls while winning 24 faceoffs.

The Engineers next host #13 RIT at home on Saturday.