PISCATAWAY, N.J. - VMI scored first, got goals from seven different players, and never trailed in coming away with a 15-10 victory over Wagner in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference lacrosse action earlier Sunday afternoon. The game was played on a turf field at Rutgers University as the site was changed two days earlier. The win sends the Keydets to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the MAAC with their fourth win in their last five games, while the Seahwaks drop to 1-7 overall and 0-3 in the conference with the loss.
Coming off an 11-9 home loss to MAAC foe Providence eight days ago on March 26 that ended a three-game winning streak, the victory was important for VMI to attain as it moved it above .500 in the conference and restored its' winning ways.
“I was really pleased with how the players won on the road,” VMI coach Doug Bartlett said. “If you are going to be a contender in the conference, you got to win on the road.”
Senior attackman Leo McInerney (Syracuse, NY/Marcellus) led the Keydets with five goals while junior attackman Robert Trimble (Oak Hill, Va./Oakton) topped VMI with six points on four goals and two assists. Junior midfielder Tony Cavalero (Annandale, Va./Annandale) also scored two goals to aid the Keydets' offense.
VMI led 6-3 at the half before Wagner outscored the Keydets 4-3 in the third period to pull within 9-7 entering the final quarter. VMI then answered quickly with a key goal to open the fourth-quarter scoring as freshman midfielder Vincent Pierotti (Corning East, N.Y./Corning East) won the ensuing faceoff and assisted on the next goal to give the Keydets a three-goal cushion with a 10-7 lead. VMI went on to outscore the Seahawks 6-3 in the fourth quarter for the final margin.
VMI made the most of its scoring opportunities as it had a 36-26 edge in shots and also held a slight 36-33 edge in ground balls.
“They took quality shots,” Bartlett said. “I'm very proud of them. It's nice to be 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the league.”
The Keydets displayed great teamwork all day as eight of their 15 goals were assisted. Trimble and senior midfielder Erik Rohrmann (Ridgefield, Conn./Ridgefield) had two assists apiece to share the team lead. Four other VMI players had one assist apiece including freshman attackman Kevin Hill (Rockville, Centre, N.Y./Southside), Pierotti, sophomore midfielder Steve Long (Drexel Hill, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara), and junior attackman Will Collier (Centreville, Va./Woodberry Forest).
Junior goalkeeper Dan Frank (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright) played the whole game in goal and finished with eight saves for the Keydets.
VMI resumes play on Wednesday, April 6 when it hosts Bellarmine University (Ky.) at Patchin Field beginning at 3:30 pm. This game was originally scheduled for February 24 before being rescheduled earlier in the season.
