THE BASICS:
 
- Score: MIT 14, No. 19 RPI 10
 
- Records: MIT (4-1); RPI (3-2)
 
- Location: Cambridge, Mass. (Roberts Field at Steinbrenner Stadium)
 
- The Lead: A 5-2 scoring burst in the fourth quarter powered MIT to a 14-10 victory over nationally ranked No. 19 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in a non-conference men's lacrosse game on Saturday afternoon. MIT graduate student Ryan Gebhardt (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) produced four goals and three assists, with all but one assist occurring in the second half. Luke Murphy led RPI with three points on one goal and two assists.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
- RPI got on the scoreboard first when Zach Swanson connected on a pass from Zach Neely at the 7:45 mark. Junior Heath Nilsen (Carlsbad, Calif.) buried the equalizer almost two minutes later and then Gebhardt set up sophomore Dylan Nelson (Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.) for the go-ahead goal with 4:35 left in the quarter.
 
- Nilsen was a factor in MIT's next two goals as he earned an assist on a strike by first year Zach Bleil (New Canaan, Conn.) and then he increased the hosts' lead to 4-1 with 8:41 on the clock. Four minutes later, Jack Greene ended RPI's scoring drought, however, Bleil redirected a feed from senior Teddy Corcoran (Harrison, N.Y.) to give MIT a 5-2 advantage at halftime.
 
- During the first five minutes of the third quarter, RPI recorded goals from Sean Smith, Murphy, and Cooper Manzi to tie the game. MIT replied with its own three-goal burst courtesy of blasts by first year Bryce Metalios (Riverside, Conn.), Nelson, and Gebhardt. The game remained scoreless until Murphy found Cian Hilkewich for a man-up goal with 1:47 on the clock. Off the ensuing faceoff, Angelo Venuto set up Tyler Ruffini who narrowed the gap to 8-7. Gebhardt found the back of the net a minute later, however, Anthony Mazzella once again brought RPI within one (9-8) with four seconds remaining.
 
- Gebhardt scored twice during the first four minutes of the fourth quarter, but a solo effort by Manzi trimmed the deficit to 11-9 with 10:38 left to play. A defensive battle ensued until Gebhardt set up Bleil for a man-up goal with 3:57 on the clock. Bleil then increased MIT's cushion to 13-9 a minute later. Smith recorded RPI's final goal with 1:01 to go as Nilsen capped the scoring with 16 seconds left.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
- Bleil finished with four goals and an assist while Nilsen posted three goals and an assist. Senior Chris Perrino (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) generated six groundballs and two caused turnovers while senior Andrew Johnson (Dover, Mass.) registered five groundballs and three caused turnovers. Sophomore Nico Bowden (Concord, Mass.) chipped in four groundballs and two caused turnovers as sophomore Matthew Sardis (Bernardsville, N.J.) won 14 of his 26 faceoff attempts and collected six groundballs. In net, senior Devin McCabe (New Castle, N.H.) made eight saves.
 
- Manzi and Smith both notched two goals as Smith added three groundballs. Greene and Caleb Oswari both registered two caused turnovers while Venuto went 13-of-27 at the faceoff "x" and produced eight groundballs. In net, Joseph Perry amassed 17 saves and two caused turnovers.
 
- In a series that began in 1938, MIT is now 1-7 all-time against RPI.
 
UP NEXT:
 
- MIT travels to Connecticut College on Tuesday, March 14 for a 5:00 p.m. game. RPI, meanwhile, has a quick turnaround as it will host No. 17 Middlebury College on Sunday, March 12 at 4:00 p.m.
 
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