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ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Top-seeded RIT scored early and often against Nazareth Sunday as the Tigers claimed the Empire 8 Conference title in men's lacrosse with a 24-10 victory over the Golden Flyers at RIT Field.

The Tigers, ranked second nationally in Division III, won the conference title for the second year in a row as they improved to 17-0 overall. Nazareth, which reached the title game with a 13-12 upset win over Stevens Friday, is 11-6 overall. RIT also clinched an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.

For RIT, senior attackman Kelso Davis scored six goals and added one assist and senior midfielder Jordan MacIntosh was named tournament MVP after posting three goals and three assists. Senior attackman Iric Bressler had one goal and five assists. The 24 goals is the most Nazareth has ever allowed in a men's lacrosse game.

For Nazareth senior Joe Jacobs-Ferderbar had two goals and two assists and senior midfielder Scott Castle, junior attackman #C.J. Estes and sophomore midfielder Brian Wright# each scored twice.

Davis scored for RIT just 51 seconds into the game on the Tigers' first shot and MacIntosh scored just 22 seconds later to set the tone early for the Tigers.

After Wright scored for Nazareth off an assist from Estes, RIT scored the next three goals to go up 5-1. Davis scored three goals in the first quarter as RIT led 8-3. The Tigers scored seven more times in the second quarter to go up 15-5 and Nazareth never seriously challenged thereafter.

Tyler Russell also scored three times for RIT while Tom Riley and Mac Keefhus each scored twice.

Nazareth had chances early, but the Tigers got 12 saves from senior goalie Bob Tonnessen, who also scored a goal before departing early in the fourth quarter. Sophomore Tim Doyle started in goal for Nazareth and had nine saves.