Men's Lacrosse | 3/23/2013 1:48:00 PM

Box Score

POTSDAM, NY -- Junior Jack Krzyston (Bedford, NH/Bishop Guertin) and sophomore Kyle Aquin (Hamilton, Ontario/St. Jean De Brebeuf) each scored three goals to pace the No. 4 RIT (6-1, 1-0 Liberty League) men's lacrosse team to an 11-6 win at Clarkson University (4-2, 0-1 Liberty League) in the Liberty League opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon.

Aquin scored one in the first quarter, and two in the second to pace the Tigers in the first half. Krzyston scored once in the third quarter and added two goals late to put the game away for the Tigers, who have now won six straight games.

Taylor Wisman (Seattle, WA/Inglemoor) had a goal and dished out three assists, while Kyle Sterzin (Fairport, NY/Fairport) scored two goals. Eddie Kiesa (Syracuse, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt) had an assist.

RIT led Clarkson in shots, 44-30, and ground balls 26-22. Face-offs were even at 11-11 and RIT was 18-of-20 on clearing attempts.

Tyler Brooks-Lambert (Seneca Castle, NY/Midlakes) went 7-of-11 on face-offs in the first half, while grabbing four ground balls. #P.J. Hart# went 4-for-9 on draws with three ground balls.

Pat Johnston (Long Beach, CA/Norwell (MA)) picked up his sixth win of the season in net for RIT, making 13 saves. Johnston made six of his 13 saves in the fourth quarter, allowing just two second half goals. Ryan Cole took the loss for Clarkson, making 14 saves.

Aquin opened the scoring with his 15th goal of the season 3:12 into the game, giving RIT an early 1-0 lead. Twenty-two seconds later, Wisman made it 2-0 Tigers with his eighth goal of the season. Krzyston scored off an assist from Cory Ashmore (Sutton, Ontario/Sutton District) with 10:55 to play in the opening quarter, giving the Tigers a 3-0 lead.

Matt Gold broke the RIT run with a goal with 4:08 to play in the first, cutting RIT's lead to 3-1. Gold then allied his second goal of the half to open the scoring in the second quarter, making it 3-2 Tigers.

Aquin and Sterzin scored consecutive goals for the Tigers. Aquin scoring off an assist from Krzyston, while Sterzin scored off an assist from Kiesa giving RIT a 5-2 lead.

Clarkson answered back with two straight goals, cutting RIT's lead down to one at 5-4 with 1:38 to play in the half.

The Golden Knights took a pushing penalty late in the half. Aquin and the Tigers took advantage with his third goal of the half on an assist from Wisman with :56 to play.

Mac Keehfus (Jamesville, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt) opened the scoring in the second half, tallying his second goal of the season at 3:26 of the quarter, increasing RIT's lead to 7-4. Sterzin scored off an assist from Johnston at 7:54 of the third quarter, making it an 8-4 Tigers lead.

After a Corey Herrington goal cut RIT's lead to 8-5, Pat McMullan (Easton, PA/Wyoming Seminary) scored off an assist from Wisman with 24 seconds left to play in the third, givng the Tigers a 9-5 lead.

Both defenses were stingy for much of the fourth quarter, until Krzyton tallied his second of the game with 1:45 to play in the game, making it 10-5 RIT. Krzyston tallied his third of the game, and 15th of the season with 59 seconds to play, giving RIT an 11-5 advantage.

Herrington added a late goal for Clarkson, making it an 11-6 final. The Tigers defense forced Clarkson into five turnovers and two goals in the second half. It is the sixth straight game the RIT defense has held an opponent to under 10 goals scored.

RIT returns to action on Wednesday, March 27 when the Tigers face No. 1 SUNY Cortland at 4 p.m. in Cortland, New York.