Ithaca Men's Lacrosse Tests Top-Ranked RIT
ITHACA, N.Y. – In a matchup of nationally-ranked men's lacrosse teams, the No. 1-ranked Rochester Institute of Technology pulled away late in the fourth quarter and defeated 13th-ranked Ithaca College 12-9 on Saturday afternoon at Higgins Stadium in Ithaca. The Bombers held a 3-2 lead in the first half and rallied in the fourth quarter to bring the score to 9-8 in RIT's favor, but the Tigers scored two straight goals to seal the victory.
RIT led 1-0 after the first quarter, but Ithaca responded with three goals in the second quarter and took a 3-2 lead.
Michael Walker,
Jack Shumway and
Jordan Brett all scored for Ithaca in the run, with the back-to-back goals from Shumway and Brett spanning 1:25. RIT closed the second quarter with four straight goals to lead 6-3 at halftime.
The Tigers built a four-goal advantage in the third quarter, but Ithaca forced a turnover and scored with one second left in the third quarter to make the score 7-4.
The teams combined for 10 goals in the fourth quarter. RIT led 8-4 and 9-6 in the quarter, but Ithaca scored back-to-back goals from
John Januszkiewicz and Shumway just seven seconds apart to make the score 9-8. Ithaca forced another RIT turnover but gave the ball back and RIT scored an insurance goal and added another off the ensuing faceoff.
Shumway led Ithaca with five points on three goals and two assists. Januszkiewicz had two goals and Brett had a goal and an assist. Ithaca goalkeeper
Scott Sidnam made 13 saves.
Ithaca outshot RIT 45-40. Each team won 12 faceoffs. The Bombers had 14 successful clears in 15 attempts, and Ithaca was 2-for-4 on extra-man opportunities. Earlier this week, RIT defeated fourth-ranked Stevenson 17-10. Ithaca's next game is Wednesday at Lycoming.