MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. - VMI lacrosse was defeated by Robert Morris, 14-6, Saturday afternoon in a non-conference contest played in Moon Township, Pa. With the loss, VMI falls to 1-5 on the year, while the victory moves the Colonials to 5-1.
The Keydets were led by Colin Bosse, as the freshman attack notched a pair of goals, his third and fourth of the season. Tim Moran, Jacob Weimer, Matt Piazza and Keith Long also notched scores for VMI, but it was not enough to overcome a 10-1 halftime deficit.
The Colonials got on the board early, as they struck for a trio of goals in the game's first six minutes. Corbyn TaoBrambleby finished off the run with a score at 9:05, putting Robert Morris up 3-0. The home team continued to pepper the net for the next several minutes, firing several shots at VMI keeper Sean McCoy, before TaoBrambleby struck again at 4:42 to put his team up 4-0.
That fourth goal started another three-goal spurt, as the Colonials added two more goals in the next three-plus minutes to pull ahead 6-0. The Keydets got on the board with just a handful of seconds left in the first, as Bosse scored the first of his two goals, cutting the margin to 6-1. However, the Colonials added four more goals in the second, and went to the locker room up 10-1. In the first half of play, Robert Morris outshot VMI 29-11 in taking the commanding lead.
The Keydets came out with energy in the third period, looking to cut into the deficit, but it was not be. TaoBrambleby added his fourth goal of the contest at 10:24, making the score 11-1, before Long scored for VMI to make it 11-2 after three periods. VMI fired 14 shots at the Colonials in the third 15 minutes of action, but could strike for only Long's goal during the frame.
The visitors were able to strike for a quartet of goals in the final frame, outscoring Robert Morris 4-3 during that quarter. Piazza, Bosse, Weimer and Moran all scored during the final period, as the Keydets outshot the Colonials 22-15 in the second half of play.
The home team was led by TaoBrambleby, who notched four goals in the win. Defensively, VMI's Chris Rossie and Dave Padgett each had four groundballs and a caused turnover.
VMI lacrosse will return to action Saturday, March 14, as the Keydets host the Providence Friars in a rematch of last year's first round MAAC Tournament game, won by VMI in overtime. The opening faceoff of this year's game is scheduled for noon.
