HIGH POINT, N.C. -- After over a decade in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, the Virginia Military Institute begins a new era Saturday afternoon as the Keydets take on High Point University in their new home, the Atlantic Sun Conference. Saturday's league-opener is set to begin at 1 p.m. at the Panthers' Vert Stadium.

How to Catch The Action
While Vert Stadium is under construction, admission to Saturday's game will be free of charge. Fans unable to make the trip to High Point have several mediums to follow the action. Through the Big South Conference, there will be a free video stream of the game, while High Point will also provide a live statistical feed. Fans can also get updates by following @VMILacrosse on Twitter.

Parking for Saturday's Game
Saturday will be a busy day for High Point athletics. The Panthers host not only VMI for lacrosse, but a baseball doubleheader in the same complex as Vert Stadium. Due to construction on the stadium, there is no parking directly by the stadium and limited general parking near Vert Stadium and the baseball diamond.

Fans are asked to park in the shopping center across the street from Vert Stadium, A shuttle will be provided and security guards will be on patrol in the lot during the game. Transportation to and from the stadium will begin at noon.

Please reference the parking map linked in the Quick Links section of this article.

Weather.com Report
Saturday's weather should be perfect for lacrosse. Temperatures are forecast to be in the 60s with partly cloudy skies. There is a zero percent chance of rain with winds from the west southwest at eight miles per hour.

The Series
Saturday's game will be the first-ever meeting between the programs. High Point is in its second season as a varsity program. However, the institutions are familiar with one another. VMI and High Point have been members of the Big South since 2003-04.

On This Date: March 8
The Keydets are 3-2 all-time on March 8. Saturday will be VMI's first-ever game on this date away from Lexington. The Keydets have not played on this date since 2003, falling 16-8 against Lehigh. VMI is hunting its first win on March 8 since 2000 when it topped Holy Cross 15-6.

First-Ever Atlantic Sun Game
Saturday's game will begin a new, albeit brief, era for the Keydets as they open conference play in the Atlantic Sun. From 2003-2013, the Keydets were associate members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, reaching the league title game in 2008.

After the 2014 season, both the VMI lacrosse team and the entire athletics program, while return to the Southern Conference, the Institute's home conference from 1927 to 2003.

Conference Openers
The Keydets begin Atlantic Sun Conference action on Saturday with High Point. VMI is 3-8 all-time in league openers, dating back to 2003 when VMI joined the MAAC.

VMI is 1-0 all-time when beginning play in a new conference, topping Canisius College 13-9 on March 15, 2003 at Patchin Field in Lexington.

It's Been Four Already?
On Wednesday, the Keydets played their fourth home game of the season. Last season, VMI did not play its fourth until April 20 after starting the season on the road for the first six games.

National Rankings - March 3
As a team, VMI is currently ranked 10th in the country in caused turnovers per game, forcing opponents into 10 per game. Junior defenseman Tyler Prasnicki is currently ranked sixth in the country and first in the Atlantic Sun in the same category, forcing 2.80 opponent errors per game. Freshman Tom Brown is 18th national with 2.0 per game.

Junior goalkeeper Evan Windisch is ranked 20th in the country in saves per game, making an average of 11.00 per game, including 16.5 per game last weekend.

Windisch and Mattice Honored
Junior goalkeeper Evan Windisch and freshman Dale Mattice were named the Atlantic Sun

Defensive and Offensive Player of the Week, respectively, on Monday afternoon.

Windisch earned the honor after making 33 saves in two games against Detroit and Air Force, including 19 in the former. He earned VMI's first-ever win over a Service Academy as well.