Empire Intrigue: No. 11 Naz Subdued by RIT
from press release
PITTSFORD, N.Y. - The RIT (11-5, 6-2 E8) men's lacrosse
team used a strong second half to beat arch rival Nazareth College
(11-4, 6-2 E8) 13-8 on Saturday. The win earns the Tigers the
second seed in next week's Empire 8 Tournament.
RIT outscored the Golden Flyers 8-3 in the second half, including
5-1 in the third quarter. Senior Sean Gillies (Oakville,
Ontario/Albany Academy) led RIT with five goals. Jordan MacIntosh
(Oakville, ON/Holy Trinity) had three goals and an assist and Kelso
Davis (Freeport, ME/Deerfield Academy) added two goals and an
assist.
After a back-and-forth first half, the Tigers exploded for five
goals in the third quarter to take control of the game. Gillies
scored two of his five goals in the third quarter. Davis, MacIntosh
and Adam Lehmann (Rochester, NY/McQuaid Jesuit) also had goals for
the Tigers in the quarter.
Davis and Gillies scored the three RIT goals in the fourth quarter
to seal the win for the Tigers. Gillies had two of the three Tigers
goals.
RIT's defense was stout, holding one of the top scoring teams in
the Empire 8 to eight goals and just three in the second half.
Junior long-stick midfielder M.J. Kiekebelt had six ground balls
and a caused turnover. Senior Dan MacRae (Oakville, Ontario/Holy
Trinity) had five ground balls and Josh Lewis (Waterloo,
NY/Waterloo) had a caused turnover. Junior Robert Tonnessen
(Ridgefield, CT/Ridgefield) picked up his ninth win of the season
making nine saves. He made six of his nine saves in the second
half.
The win by RIT snapped a two-game winning streak by the Golden
Flyers over the Tigers and was the first win since the 2008
season.
RIT will likely host Nazareth College next Friday in the Empire 8
Tournament.
