Box Score Box l Updated stats
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Top-ranked RIT scored four consecutive goals in a span of 2:14 early in the fourth quarter to break an 8-8 tie and take a 12-8 lead with 10:37 to play in regulation. Host Nazareth closed to within three goals but the Tigers maintained their lead and went on to defeat the Golden Flyers 14-11 in a non-conference men's lacrosse game on Wednesday. Senior Brian Wright tallied three goals to lead Nazareth's attack, and sophomore Scott Brown made 10 saves in the Golden Flyers' net.

With the loss, Nazareth's four-game winning streak ends, and the Golden Flyers slip to 6-6 overall. With the victory, the Tigers remain undefeated and improve to 12-0 overall. It was only the second time RIT scored fewer than 15 goals in a game this season.

Prior to RIT's four goal outburst to begin the fourth quarter, Nazareth scored five straight goals spanning the final 4:27 of the third quarter and opening 1:22 of the fourth. Sophomore Matt O'Neill ignited the run after receiving a pass from junior Will Fallo. Roughly three minutes later, Fallo set up another score with a pass to classmate Kyle Fanning. O'Neill added his second goal of the game with 29 seconds to play in the third after receiving a pass from sophomore Troy Haefele. Senior Trevar Haefele brought Nazareth to within one goal, 8-7, when he found the back of the RIT net with only 1.6 seconds remaining in the quarter. Haefele's goal was set up by forced turnover and ground ball by freshman Luke Longo. Longo set up a fast break in the Golden Flyers' offensive zone and passed to Haefele for the scoring opportunity. Senior Chris Aycock capped the rally with an unassisted goal just over a minute into the fourth quarter.

After junior Drew Simoneau won the vast majority of the faceoffs throughout the opening three periods, RIT's Tyler Brooks-Lambert answered with several consecutive faceoff wins to provide the Tigers with the possession. RIT's scoring run featured four different goal-scorers, including Ryan Lee, Jack Krzyston, Brooks-Lambert, and Taylor Wisman. Aycock closed the Tigers' lead to 12-9 with 8:14 to play in regulation following his unassisted goal, however, RIT matched Nazareth's goals over the final five minutes to thwart the Golden Flyers' rally. Wright scored both of the Golden Flyers' goals, with Troy Haefele assisting on the first of them, while Kryzston and Matt Hossack found the back of the Nazareth net for the Tigers.

To begin the contest, Wright opened the scoring with an unassisted goal 2:21 into regulation. RIT answered with goals by Casey Jackson and Kyle Aquin before Troy Haefele tied the game with 11 seconds remaining in the stanza. Haefele also drew a penalty on his goal, which set up senior Collin Clark's man-up goal 21 seconds into the second quarter. Simoneau's faceoff victory at the end of the first period provided Nazareth's man-up unit with possession. Clark's goal reclaimed the Golden Flyers' lead, 3-2.

RIT answered with six consecutive scores to take the 8-3 lead with 5:34 to play in the third quarter. The Tigers' six-goal run lasted over 21 minutes during the second and third quarters. Aquin had three goals during the run, including the first and the last, and Wisman, Jackson, and Ryan Lee also scored. Lee's goal came with only 14 seconds remaining in the first half.

Nazareth finished with advantages in shots (45-39), ground balls collected (41-30), and faceoffs won (19-8). Simoneau finished with a game-high 15 ground balls. Pat Johnston saved 13 shots to earn the victory, including eight in the second half. Brown took the loss with his 10 saves. Nazareth played without sophomore stand-out Luke Wooters, who missed his third-straight game. Despite his missed time, Wooters ranks second in goals (21) and tied for first in total points with Troy Haefele (44).

The Golden Flyers travel to Ithaca on Saturday for a critical Empire 8 contest against the Bombers. Both teams are undefeated in conference action with Nazareth standing at 4-0 and Ithaca at 3-0. Saturday's game begins at 12 p.m.