LEXINGTON, Va. - Despite solid play in the second and fourth quarters, the VMI lacrosse team fell in its Senior Day game to visiting Bellarmine by a 15-6 score Saturday afternoon at Drill Field 2.

The event marked the final home game for departing senior cadet-athletes Joseph Amato, Dan Bull, Jay Hill, Pat Hine, Ian Marinacci and Garrett Warren.

The Knights (5-8, 3-3) jumped to a 5-1 lead in the opening quarter as they outpaced the Keydets (2-13, 0-6) in shot attempts by a 15-7 margin in the frame. With four minutes to play until the end of the quarter, VMI's Wesley Sanders scored an unassisted goal to put the Keydets on the board. The score was Sanders' 13th consecutive game this season of scoring at least one goal.

VMI upped its defensive pressure in the second quarter and saw great results as the game stayed at a 5-1 score until the final seven seconds when the Knights put in two late scores to go into halftime with a 7-1 advantage.

Bellarmine maintained the momentum through the third quarter by rattling off four unanswered goals. 

The Keydets refused to give up as Dale Mattice scored his seventh goal of the season at the 10:42 mark moments before Sanders scored his second of the game to cut the BU lead to 12-3. After three Knight goals, VMI scored three times in the final 1:11 to finish strong.

Tom Nofi scored his eighth and ninth goals of the season, respectively, at the 1:11 and 0:17 marks. Battling until the final buzzer, senior Jay Hill scored with one second on the clock for the game's final tally.

Bellarmine goalie Chase Rose recorded 12 saves in the win while VMI's Joe Riccadonna was credited with 10 in the loss.

VMI concludes the 2016 regular season next Saturday with a road game at league member High Point. The first faceoff is slated for a 12 p.m. start in High Point, North Carolina.