Box Score

RIT RIT 11-1, 3-1 LL

Ithaca ITHACA 9-3, 2-2 LL

RIT RIT

11-1, 3-1 LL

Final

Apr. 13, 2022

Ithaca ITHACA

9-3, 2-2 LL

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
RIT RIT	7	6	3	3	19
Ithaca ITHACA	0	1	3	2	6

Game Recap: Men's Lacrosse | 4/13/2022 9:10:00 PM | Daniel Swanson, Athletics Communications Student Assistant

Men’s Lacrosse Stymied by RIT Under the Lights on Wednesday

ITHACA, N.Y. - The Ithaca College men's lacrosse team suffered their third defeat of the season at the hands of RIT by a score of 19-6 under the lights at Higgins Field on Wednesday. The Bombers fell to 9-3 overall on the season and 2-2 in Liberty League play. Meanwhile, the Tigers maintained their second-place position in the Liberty League and improved to 11-1 on the season.

Inside the Box Score

RIT started to dominate the game early on with significantly more possession in Ithaca's defensive zone. They outshot the Bombers 18-2 in the first quarter and forced eight turnovers while only committing four themselves. The Tigers asserted their dominance for the entire duration of the first quarter, leaving Ithaca's attacking trio with little to do. Ithaca's best chance came in the final minute although a shot from Blake Eischen was saved by the opposing goalkeeper.
Overall, Ithaca played a much more even second quarter, but it didn't stop RIT from asserting its will, outscoring the Bombers 6-1 in the quarter. Ithaca won 5-for-8 in faceoffs and only had two fewer shots than RIT. Luke Pilcher wrapped up his first half hat-trick early in the quarter.
The Tigers outshot Ithaca by a 51-32 margin and 35-23 for shots on goal. Despite the lopsided score line, the Bombers didn't perform much worse in terms of turnovers (19 vs 17), faceoffs won (13/29), and groundballs (35 vs. 23).

How it Happened

RIT opened up the scoring in just the third minute of the first quarter through Marley Angus who scored after picking up a loose groundball in front of the Ithaca net. RIT dominated these first few minutes with instant pressure every time they lost the ball. Angus doubled his tally for the day just four minutes later following another ground ball in Ithaca's defensive zone. The Tigers went on to rack up five more goals before the conclusion of the first quarter.
The start of the second quarter was more promising for the Bombers. After a solid possession set and some clever movement from Jake Erickson, Charlie Niebuhr had a clean shot on net that was saved by the sprawling legs of Drew Hutchinson. That didn't stop RIT from scoring two quick-fire goals in the 10^th and 11^th minutes of play. Niebuhr went on to score Ithaca's first goal of the contest in the 8^th minute off an assist from Connor Brumfield.
Quinn Commandant scored the first goal of the second half in the first minute for the Tigers. Blake Eischen had a golden opportunity to answer back a few minutes later, but Hutchison was smartly down quick to save with his stick. Instead, Pilcher added his fourth goal of the game off an assist from Ryan Barnable. Jake Erickson answered with 5:30 left in the third quarter after a weaving run through RIT's defense until he was right in front of goal. Erickson would double his tally just eight seconds later after another successful faceoff and assist from Cameron MacNicol. MacNicol found success from faceoffs throughout the game, converting one into a goal in the final minute of the third quarter.
RIT took their foot off the pedal in the fourth quarter, giving minutes to more players. Andrew Tinnesz scored the Bombers fifth goal of the game, his first of the season. Despite seeing less scoring, the energy and intensity from both teams remained the same in the final quarter, with both teams making quick transitions from one end of the field to the other.