Late VMI Rally Falls Short at Army

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Late VMI Rally Falls Short at Army

WEST POINT, N.Y. – A fourth quarter VMI rally fell just short, as the Keydet lacrosse team dropped an 11-9 contest to the Army Black Knights Saturday afternoon at Michie Stadium in West Point, N.Y. 

Trailing 10-5 with 13:15 to play, the Keydets (0-2) mounted a comeback over the next 7:24. Jacob Weimer scored just 45 seconds into the run, and Drew Leonard followed with a goal to cut the margin to three. Bobby Davis then notched a pair of goals, the last tally a man-up marker, to cut the deficit to 10-9 with 5:51 left. Unfortunately for VMI, the Keydets could get no closer, and the Black Knights (1-0) added a late insurance goal to account for the final margin.

VMI was paced by Stephen Robarge, who went 16 for 19 at the face-off X to jump start the Keydet offensive attack. The sophomore is now 31 for 40 in face-off attempts on the young season, for an impressive percentage of 77.5. Weimer had three goals for the Keydets, while Keith Long and Tim Moran each had four points in the setback.

Army jumped on the board first, just over a minute into the game. After a VMI turnover. Devin Lynch scored for the Black Knights to make it 1-0, Army. The Keydets came back at the 12:15 mark, as Long scored the first of his two goals to knot the score at one. The teams again traded goals just moments later, as Army's leading returning scorer Jeremy Boltus threaded a pass to teammate Garrett Thul. Thul beat VMI keeper Kelly McMinn to make it 2-1, but with 7:48 left in the first, Tim Moran found the back of the net to tie the game at two.

VMI threatened again immediately following the Moran goal, as Robarge won another faceoff to give the Keydets possession. Weimer fired a shot wide right, and Black Knight keeper Tom Palesky stopped a Drew Leonard attempt. The teams exchanged fruitless possessions over the next two minutes, leading to the game's first penalty. The flag against the Keydets gave Army an extra-man chance, and the home team cashed in to go up 3-2. They would add a goal late in the period, and would hold a 4-2 lead after one quarter.

The second quarter went by scoreless, so Army maintained its 4-2 lead at the halftime intermission. The home squad had outshot VMI 14-12 in the opening half, and the Keydets' went just 5-11 in clears over the opening 30 minutes.

Army came out quickly, as attacker Tyler Seymour struck for two quick goals. The last came at 11:09 of the third, and put Army up by four, 6-2. As was the case all day, the Keydets came right back. Weimer scored back-to-back goals, the last coming with 8:20 left in the period, and the deficit was down to just two.

Seymour scored his third marker of the quarter just 90 seconds later, but Long responded at the 4:07 mark for VMI, and the Keydets remained within two at 7-5. The Black Knights then scored the game's next three goals, including two by Boltus late in the third quarter, to set the stage for the attempted VMI comeback.

On the day, the Keydets outshot Army 34-30, including 12-7 in the final period, and also outgained the Black Knights in ground balls, 34-24. Helped by Robarge's 16 for 19 effort, VMI won 19 of the 23 faceoffs contested, but 19 VMI turnovers and six Keydet penalties helped Army escape with the narrow win. Defensively, VMI netminder McMinn made 10 saves in his first collegiate start, while Palesky stopped 11 shots for the Black Knights.

VMI lacrosse will return to action Saturday, Feb. 27, as the Keydets host Jacksonville University in VMI's home opener. The contest is currently scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. at VMI's turf field.

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Players Mentioned

Bobby Davis

#12 Bobby Davis

M
5' 11"
Junior
Drew Leonard

#34 Drew Leonard

A
6' 2"
Sophomore
Keith Long

#7 Keith Long

M
6' 3"
Sophomore
Kelly McMinn

#30 Kelly McMinn

G
5' 10"
Sophomore
Tim Moran

#11 Tim Moran

M
5' 9"
Senior
Stephen Robarge

#37 Stephen Robarge

M-F/O
5' 10"
Sophomore
Jacob Weimer

#33 Jacob Weimer

A
5' 10"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Bobby Davis

#12 Bobby Davis

5' 11"
Junior
M
Drew Leonard

#34 Drew Leonard

6' 2"
Sophomore
A
Keith Long

#7 Keith Long

6' 3"
Sophomore
M
Kelly McMinn

#30 Kelly McMinn

5' 10"
Sophomore
G
Tim Moran

#11 Tim Moran

5' 9"
Senior
M
Stephen Robarge

#37 Stephen Robarge

5' 10"
Sophomore
M-F/O
Jacob Weimer

#33 Jacob Weimer

5' 10"
Senior
A