STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Hoping for its first victory of the season, the Virginia Military Institute lacrosse team fell short in its bid as Wagner College pulled away for a 12-4 win Tuesday afternoon at Wagner College Stadium in Staten Island, New York.

The Keydets (0-8) struck first in the game as attackman Mike DeBlasio scored an unassisted goal just three minutes in. The advantage would be short-lived, however, as the Seahawks (2-4) scored five times in the opening quarter to push ahead and would never relinquish its lead.

Wagner managed to put three more into the Keydet goal in the second quarter before VMI freshman Tom Nofi added a score to cut the Seahawk lead to 8-2 going into the break.

The Seahawks' Paul DeVita scored his second goal of the game early in the third quarter before teammate Billy Battaglia tallied his second midway through the period to put Wagner up, 10-2.

Senior Ty Trobridge registered a goal for the Keydets at the 6:23 mark of the third period to keep VMI in contention and cut the deficit to a 10-3 score as both teams went scoreless for the remainder of the quarter.

After two Seahawk goals to open the fourth period, Nofi scored his second goal of the game for VMI in the closing moments to bring the game to its final tally.

DeBlasio led the Keydets with five shot attempts on the afternoon, including three on goal, while Wesley Sanders logged four and Nofi had three. Wagner's Andrew Streilein led the Seahawks with three goals during the game while Billy Battaglia and Paul DeVita each scored a pair.

VMI returns to action Saturday as the Keydets travel to face Bellarmine University. The first faceoff is slated for a 1 p.m. start in Louisville, Kentucky.