Strong First Half Not Enough, Lacrosse Falls 13-8

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Strong First Half Not Enough, Lacrosse Falls 13-8

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. – A strong first half was not enough as the VMI Keydets dropped a 13-8 decision to the Siena Saints, in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) men's lacrosse played Saturday in Loudonville, N.Y.

The Keydets (2-10, 0-5 MAAC) scored the game's first four goals against the Saints (7-4, 4-0 MAAC), who had not lost a MAAC home game since 2008, when VMI beat Siena in Loudonville. The home team, however, recovered and outscored VMI 8-2 in the second half to claim the win, and remain undefeated in MAAC play this year.

VMI had seven different players score goals, led by Tim Moran's two tallies. Moran, who had a 23-game point streak snapped in his last outing versus Saint Joseph's, notched his 19th goal of the year at the 8:29 mark of the first, giving VMI the early 1-0 lead.

The Keydets got right back on the board less than three minutes later on Brett Leonard's 11th of the year, making the score 2-0 in favor of the visitors. Only 15 shots were attempted in the first quarter, and the Keydets nursed their 2-0 lead to the end of the first period. They got their third goal 1:49 into the second, when Colin Bosse found Moran for a score that made it 3-0, and Stephen Robarge won the ensuing face-off. Less than a minute later, Moran hit Bernie Mowbray with a pass, and Mowbray found the back of the net to put the Keydets ahead, 4-0.

Mowbray's score seemed to wake Siena up, as the Saints countered with a five-goal spurt to take a 5-4 lead. The run started with a Shaun Dunn goal at the 10:42 mark of the second quarter, and wrapped up with another Dunn score less than four minutes later. After five minutes of back-and-forth action, the Keydets answered at the end of the half with a Jacob Weimer goal, a score that came off a pass from Keith Long with 50 seconds left in the half. The Keydets weren't done, as Robarge won the face-off and VMI set up a play. The play led to Leonard finding Bosse for his 15th goal of the season, as VMI retook the lead and held a 6-5 edge at halftime.

The Keydets had a pair of chances early in the third quarter, but Siena keeper Brent Herbst stopped Weimer on both occasions. The Saints took advantage 5:10 into the half, when Bryan Neufeld beat Kelly McMinn to tie the game once again, 6-6.

The next six minutes were marked by a handful of turnovers, with each club committing multiple miscues. Siena was finally able to get an offensive advantage with 11 minutes gone by in the quarter, and after a McMinn save and a shot that hit the crossbar, the Saints found the back of the net to retake the lead once again, 7-6. That score came with 3:40 to go in the third, and was followed up 40 seconds later by a second goal, as Siena took an 8-6 edge. Keith Long responded with 2:11 to go in the period, cutting the deficit to one, 8-7, which is how the scoreboard read heading to the final quarter.

Neufeld scored again, his 31st of the year, 1:35 into the fourth quarter. The goal gave Siena a 9-7 lead, and started a game-clinching five-goal run. The spurt concluded with a marker at the 4:31 mark, and Siena held a 13-7 advantage at that point. Bobby Davis was able to score the game's final goal with just over a minute to play, accounting for the final margin.

Siena was led by Neufeld and Dunn, who had three goals apiece, while keeper Herbst had 13 saves. For VMI, Robarge, who entered with the Division I lead in face-off percentage, won 14 of 24 at the X. The sophomore also won 10 ground balls, potentially helping him move up from his second place spot in D-I. Finally, McMinn stopped 12 shots for the Keydets in defeat.

VMI lacrosse will return to action Saturday, as the Keydets play host to the Wagner Seahawks. Game time is set for 1 p.m.
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Players Mentioned

Colin Bosse

#4 Colin Bosse

A
5' 10"
Sophomore
Bobby Davis

#12 Bobby Davis

M
5' 11"
Junior
Brett Leonard

#10 Brett Leonard

M
5' 11"
Senior
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

Colin Bosse

#4 Colin Bosse

5' 10"
Sophomore
A
Bobby Davis

#12 Bobby Davis

5' 11"
Junior
M
Brett Leonard

#10 Brett Leonard

5' 11"
Senior
M
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