team vs. st. bonaventure
Scott Golding
10
Detroit Mercy DETMERCY 0-2
15
Winner VMI VMI 4-2
Detroit Mercy DETMERCY
0-2
10
Final
15
VMI VMI
4-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Detroit Mercy DETMERCY 4 3 1 2 10
VMI VMI 4 5 2 4 15

Game Recap: Lacrosse |

VMI holds off Detroit Mercy, 15-10

COLUMBUS, Ohio – With the game tied at 7-7 late into the second period, the VMI lacrosse team rallied to outscore Detroit Mercy by an 8-3 count the rest of the way to earn a hard-fought 15-10 victory over the Titans for a neutral-site win at Liberty Olentangy High School in Columbus, Ohio.
 
The Keydets (4-2, 0-0) are off to their best start in 24 years (2000 season) by earning their fourth win of the season in just six games played thus far. The win also lifted VMI to its first winning record out-of-conference in program history – the Keydets first joined the MAAC in 2003 before transitioning to the Atlantic Sun from 2010-13 and the SoCon from 2014-2022.
 
The win was also VMI's third-straight victory, marking the first time since the 2008 season that VMI has won three contests in a row.
 
How it Happened
*The Keydets opened the game down 2-0 after early goals from Detroit. Luke Rusterucci and Austin English tied it back up at 2-2 with equalizer goals at the 7:46 and 7:26 marks. The teams went into the second period knotted up at 4-4
*Nate Golding gave VMI its first lead at 5-4 with a goal at the 13:56 mark of the second stanza. The schools went back-and-forth and were tied up again at 7-7 with 4:48 before the break.
*Simon Moore and Wil Duffy gave VMI a momentum boost just before the half to put VMI up, 9-7, at the intermission
*The Keydets outscored the Titans, 6-3, the rest of the way en route to the big win as both schools will be members of the Northeast Conference (NEC) beginning next season
 
Inside the Box Score
*Luke Rusterucci and Austin English led VMI with four goals apiece while Wil Duffy contributed three. Four other Keydets scored solo goals
*VMI outshot the Titans by a 45-35 count and picked up 41 groundballs to DMU's 20
*Both teams committed 22 turnovers
*VMI faceoff specialist Jack Rogers won 22 of 29 faceoff attempts to help VMI win the possession battle
*VMI goalie Adam Norris registered the individual win by logging 12 saves in a complete game. Detroit goalie Ryan Richters finished with 13 saves through the 60 minutes
 
VMI Head Coach James Purpura
"I'm really proud of the guys for finding a way to win against a tough and physical Detroit team. We came out a little flat and started down early but battled back to regain the lead. The game was back and forth, but we found a way to win most of the margins and ultimately the game. Jack Rogers was phenomenal at the face off X going over 75 percent for the day. He helped leverage the possession battle all day for us and picked up 10 groundballs.
 
"Our wing play did a great job flanking him and we scored a few goals off transition at the X. Offensively, we had some good moments but need to clean up our shooting. We left some on the table today. Austin English had a big game and stepped up. We had a few guys go down and guys just kept stepping up. Defensively, we started slow but I thought we did a great job playing stronger in the second half. Adam Norris had another strong game and made some great saves. We will watch the tape, make corrections and continue honing in on the process. We get back home and start conference play next week against a strong LIU team."
 
Up Next
The Keydets return home to begin MAAC play against LIU at the friendly confines of Drill Field #2 next Saturday, March 9, at 12 p.m. on North Post.
 
 
 


 
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