Keydets Fall to Canisius in MAAC Title Game

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Keydets Fall to Canisius in MAAC Title Game

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y.-The No. 2-seeded Canisius Golden Griffins knocked off the VMI Keydet Lacrosse team in Sunday afternoon's Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship game, 14-5.

With the loss, the most successful season in program history ends for VMI. The Keydets conclude the campaign that ended with their first-ever post-season appearance with a 6-10 record overall, and a MAAC Tournament runner-up slot.

Save 2005, the six victories are the most VMI has had since 2000, when the Keydets won seven games. After being picked to finish eighth in the pre-season coaches' poll, VMI finished fourth during the regular season, and then posted the runner-up finish in the conference tournament.

Canisius wins its first MAAC Championship, moves its record to 10-4, and earns the conference's automatic bid to next weekend's NCAA Tournament.

The Keydets got off to a solid start, as Jacob Weimer took a Brett Leonard pass and put it by the Canisius goalkeeper at the 5:42 mark. VMI took an early 1-0 lead off the sophomore's goal, but it was the only lead VMI would hold all day.

Canisius answered with two Adam Jones' goals, and VMI responded with a Matt Piazza goal to tie the game. Weimer assisted on Piazza's third goal of the season and second of the tournament, and after one period, the game was tied at 2.

During the first period of play, Canisius had six turnovers, while VMI had just three.

The second period was marked by two Canisius goals, and a slowly-paced, deliberate game. VMI turned the ball over six time during the quarter, and only cleared successfully two-of-five times.

The Golden Griffins pulled away in the third quarter. A six-goal run pushed the lead to 10-2 after three frames, and the Canisius team managed to clear all twelve times they attempted to do in the first three quarters. Canisius opened the fourth with two additional scores, pushing the advantage to 12-2. All told, the eventual conference champions scored ten unanswered goals to put the game away.

Tim Moran scored a man-up goal at the 10:36 mark to end the run, and cut the deficit to 12-3, but the Golden Griffins responded with two goals midway through the final quarter. The Keydets got goals from Brett Leonard and Weimer in the game's final minute, accounting for the final 14-5 margin.

On the day, the Keydets were two-of-four in Extra Man Opportunities, and they successfully cleared the ball 14-of-18 times.

VMI was led by Weimer's four points on two goals and two assists, while Leonard, Moran, and Piazza added scores as well. The Keydets notched three selections on the All-Tournament team: Kevin Hill, Patrick Zanelotti, and Moran.

Canisius was led by Jones, who had four goals and an assist.

The game brings to a close the career of VMI's nine seniors, including 2008 MAAC Offensive Player of the Year Kevin Hill, who ends his four years with 81 career goals, eighth on VMI's all-time list. He also finishes second on the all-time assist list, with 83, and concludes his VMI career with 164 total points.
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Players Mentioned

Kevin Hill

#5 Kevin Hill

A
6' 0"
Senior
Brett Leonard

#10 Brett Leonard

A/M
5' 11"
Sophomore
Tim Moran

#11 Tim Moran

M
5' 9"
Sophomore
Matt Piazza

#9 Matt Piazza

M
5' 9"
Freshman
Jacob Weimer

#33 Jacob Weimer

A
5' 10"
Sophomore
Patrick Zanelotti

#35 Patrick Zanelotti

D
6' 1"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Kevin Hill

#5 Kevin Hill

6' 0"
Senior
A
Brett Leonard

#10 Brett Leonard

5' 11"
Sophomore
A/M
Tim Moran

#11 Tim Moran

5' 9"
Sophomore
M
Matt Piazza

#9 Matt Piazza

5' 9"
Freshman
M
Jacob Weimer

#33 Jacob Weimer

5' 10"
Sophomore
A
Patrick Zanelotti

#35 Patrick Zanelotti

6' 1"
Senior
D