CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Playing in its final non-conference road game of the season, the VMI lacrosse team fell to host Virginia by a 19-4 score at Klockner Stadium Tuesday night in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The Keydets (1-10) put a scare in the Cavaliers (5-5) after putting up two goals in the opening quarter and allowing just one to go into the second quarter with a 2-1 advantage. Following a 30-second warning, Tom Nofi advanced the ball deep into the Cavalier defense and scored an unassisted goal at the 10:11 mark. After allowing the UVa goal midway through, VMI's Brad Nardella scored the second goal moments later go give the Keydets the lead.

VMI extended its lead to 3-1 early in the second period off a Cody Sheetz goal assisted by Nofi at the 12:12 mark of the frame. Playing on edge, the Cavaliers would go on to score nine unanswered goals the remainder of the quarter to go into halftime with what proved to be an insurmountable 10-3 lead.

Although VMI sophomore Wesley Sanders scored his team-best 20th goal of the season with 12 seconds before the final quarter, the Cavaliers scored nine goals throughout the second half, including six unanswered in the fourth quarter, to earn the victory.

Sanders led VMI with six shot attempts on the evening to go with four from Nofi. Pat Hine showed hustle by recording seven groundballs while freshman Kyle Walsh logged four.

James Pannell tallied four goals for Virginia while Joe French had three. Playing the first half, UVa goalie Matt Barrett had four saves for the Cavaliers.

VMI returns to action Saturday for its final non-conference home game of the season as first-year program Hampton comes to town. The Keydets and Pirates will square off at 2 p.m. at Drill Field 2. The game was originally scheduled for noon but was switched to 2 p.m. to accommodate the travel needs of the opponent.