Potsdam, N.Y.- Alex Seiler led the way with three goals as an upset-minded Clarkson University Men's Lacrosse team fell late, 13-10, to visiting #3 RIT, Saturday afternoon at Hantz Field.
The Knights drop to 8-5 overall, 1-3 in the Liberty league while RIT, who are ranked at number 3 in the nation, improves to 13-1, with a 5-0 conference record.
The Tigers would jump out to an early 3-2 lead after the opening period. Nate Senez got the visitors on the board a little over 4 and a half minutes into the contest before Seiler knotted things up at 1 just about six seconds later following the faceoff. Another Tigers goal at the 8:33 mark would be answered by an unassisted tally from Connor Matthews to tie the score again until an RIT goal with just under two minutes left in the first gave the visitors the advantage after one.
RIT would connect for another early score in the second but Seiler would answer the call again for Clarkson, delivering on two back-to-back goals to tie the game up at 4-4, midway through the second. The Tigers would take a small advantage less than 40 seconds later going up by 1, before a man-up goal from Sam Mancabelli and one each from Ethan Hopkins and Matthews gave the Knights a two-goal advantage at 7-5, headed into the break.
Clarkson would take their biggest lead of the game right out of the break as Vincent Lavarnway found the back of the RIT net off a feed from Matthews at the 8:57 mark to push the lead to 8-5. With both teams turning up the defensive intensity in the opening minutes of the second half RIT would finally manage to build some momentum, rattling off the only other two goals of the third and the opening two goals of the fourth to reclaim a 9-8 advantage. The Knights, determined to keep the upset bid alive would score the next two tallies with Ian Erskine dumping in a feed from Robert Fox with about six minutes remaining and Fox connecting on an unassisted goal of his own with 4:39 remaining in the contest and the Knights leading 10-9.
RIT would find their much needed footing over that remaining four minutes and change, connecting on four more goals in the waning minutes, claiming the 13-10 Liberty League victory.
Shot margins were extremely close for both teams with RIT holding a slim advantage in shots (46-42) and shots on goal (26-22). Clarkson would connect for the only man-up advantage going 1-5, while RIT finished 0-3.
Lavarnway added two assists to go along with his goal as Jack Garvey, Connor Holly, Fox and Matthews all added one of their own. Griffin Emerson made 13 saves between the pipes for the Knights while also snagging six ground balls. Alex Zborowski stopped 10 in net for the Tigers.
