Rochester, N.Y. – Second-seeded and #20 Rochester Institute of Technology (13-5) defeated the Ithaca men's lacrosse team (8-10) 9-6 in the Empire 8 men's lacrosse championship game Sunday at RIT Field. Ithaca played in the Empire 8 championship for the fifth time in the tournament's seven-year history. Ithaca senior midfielder Nic Heckman (Sparta/Sparta, N.J.) had five assists for the second time in a week, matching his career-high totals in assists and points.

Ithaca's first-half goal was sophomore attackman Devin Weinshank's (Long Beach/Long Beach) team-leading 31st of the year, assisted by senior attackman Mike Lohan (Calhoun/Merrick). That tied the score 1-1 with 4:41 remaining in the first quarter. Ithaca trailed 4-1 at halftime.

The Bombers got back on the board with 1:38 left in the third quarter on a goal by Tom Mongelli (Kinnelon/Kinnelon, N.J.), his 29th goal of the season, assisted by Heckman that narrowed the deficit to 6-2.

Ithaca trailed 7-2 after three quarters, but started the fourth quarter with a three-minute non-releaseable man-up opportunity after an RIT player was called for an illegal stick. They took advantage when Mongelli scored with 12:52 left on an assist from Heckman, and the same tandem connected again 42 seconds later to make the score 7-4. RIT scored the next two goals before Ithaca answered on a goal from junior midfielder Ryan Lowe (Fairport/Fairport) assisted by Heckman.

Lohan scored with 1:23 left in the game on an assist from Heckman. The Bombers went on a man-up opportunity in the closing minute but Lowe's shot from the left side was saved. Heckman finished the year with 25 assists.

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