In a matchup between two of the nation's top teams, No. 4 Rochester Institute of Technology held on to beat No. 16 St. John Fisher College 14-12 on Wednesday in a marquee Empire 8 Conference men's lacrosse contest.

With the win, R.I.T. improves to 10-0 overall and 4-0 in the Empire 8, while Fisher falls to 9-3, 1-3.

Fisher, who trailed 6-3 at the end of the first quarter, never led in the game, but battled back in the second half, tying the game at 8s, 10s and finally at 12-12 with 8:03 left to play.  

The Tigers, however, took the lead for good with just under five minutes left and added an insurance goal with 2:44 left to remain undefeated.

Mitch Ritchie led Fisher with four goals and one assist.  Kyle Denhoff scored three goals.   Ryan Schmidt finished with three points on two goals and one assist, while Mike Byrnes added three points on one goal and two assists.

Connor Henderson and Jeff Wester each chipped in with a goal and an assist.  Fisher's Erich Rassow was 18-for-27 at the X and scooped up a team-high 10 ground balls.

Goalie Jamie Campagna stopped four shots in goal.

Fisher will return to action at 7 p.m. next Wednesday and will host Nazareth College under the lights at Growney Stadium.