TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's lacrosse team dropped a 17-8 decision to #12 RIT this afternoon at ECAV Stadium.
Cooper Manzi led the Engineers with three goals, while
Michael Kline added two tallies.
Ian Weihe,
Hayden Wedemeyer, and
Mickey Sullivan also found the back of the net, and RPI received assists from
Sean Smith,
Tyler Ruffini, and
Jordan Vaillancourt.
RIT opened the scoring in the first quarter and carried a 1-0 lead into the second, before RPI responded early in the period when Manzi converted on the man-up to tie the game.
The Tigers then used a decisive run through the remainder of the half to create separation, as Kline's finish off a Vaillancourt feed kept the Engineers within striking distance, but RIT took a 7-2 advantage into the break.
RPI opened the third quarter with an unassisted goal from Weihe and later got scores from Manzi and Wedemeyer to generate offense, but RIT answered throughout the frame and pushed the margin to 13-5 entering the fourth.
In the final quarter, Kline scored again, Sullivan added a late goal, and Manzi capped the RPI scoring in the closing minutes, but the Tigers closed out the 17-8 final.
Hunter Sullivan made 14 saves in goal for the Engineers. The nationally-ranked Tigers held advantages in shots (52-34) and ground balls (47-38), and went 3-for-3 on extra-man opportunities.
The Engineers wrap the season with an overall record of 9-8.
