markie, team vs. Wagner
Randall K. Wolf
10
Wagner WAGNER 1-12, 1-6
14
Winner VMI VMI 7-6, 3-4
Wagner WAGNER
1-12, 1-6
10
Final
14
VMI VMI
7-6, 3-4
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Wagner WAGNER 4 2 2 2 10
VMI VMI 3 3 5 3 14

Game Recap: Lacrosse |

VMI tops Wagner, earns seventh win of season

Keydets’ seventh win of year marks the most since the 2005 season

Gallery

LEXINGTON, Va. – The VMI lacrosse team earned its seventh win of the 2024 season after defeating visiting Wagner College by a 14-10 score Wednesday afternoon at Drill Field #2.
 
With seven wins on the year, VMI (7-6, 3-4) has earned its most wins since the 2005 season and ties its most Division I wins since the 1995 campaign out of its 41-year program history. Wagner falls to 1-12 overall and 1-6 in conference games.
 
The seven wins also eclipses last year's six-win total and marks four straight seasons of improvement in win totals.
 
Junior Luke Rusterucci led the team with four goals and one assist for five combined points for the day, bringing his total to 63 for the year – the sixth most all-time for a single season and most since Joe Brockman in 1996.
 
 
VMI Head Coach James Purpura
"It wasn't our cleanest game, but I'm proud of the guys for finding a way to win. I'm proud of this senior class who has continued to set the standard and move the program forward. We started slow out of the gates and - credit to Wagner - they were able to get an early momentum by going up 4-1 to start the game. We settled in and battled back and tied it up before the half. Then we were able to start finishing our opportunities and came out hot in the second half to take the lead.
 
"Defensively, once we settled in, we were able to play strong six-on-six defense and earn stops. Adam Norris was very strong on the cage and made a lot of saves for us down the stretch. Offensively, Luke Rusterucci continues to have a great year. We had spread-out scoring and a lot of assisted goals. Ty Yonas had his best game of his young freshman campaign recording six points. Gabe Eichler came in and won some big face offs down the stretch to maintain possessions. We have a quick turnaround for another strong opponent and I look forward to getting back to work with this group."
 
7 wins

 
Game Summary
After Wagner went up 4-1 to open the game, the Keydets bounced back late in the first quarter to cut the deficit to 4-3. After the Seahawks scored the first goal of the second period, the Keydets responded with three goals (Duffy, English, Duffy) and allowed just one Wagner goal to go into halftime tied up at six apiece.
 
The Keydets came out hot in the second half to outscore the Seahawks 5-2 in the third quarter as Rusterucci (2x), Yonas (2x) and AJ Stamos put in goals to extend VMI's lead to 11-8 going into the final quarter.
 
VMI held strong over the final 15 minutes as the Keydets' Austin English, Rusterucci and Wil Duffy scored to put the game out of reach and the Seahawks could only muster two more scores to finish the game.
 
Inside the Box Score
*VMI outshot the Seahawks by a slim 41-37 margin and logged 33 groundballs to Wagner's 26
*Both squads finished 14-28 at the Face off X
*VMI goalie Adam Norris finished with 14 saves while Wagner's Rudy Zarate finished with 12 
 
Up Next
The Keydets face another quick turnaround as they travel to Hamden, Connecticut, to take on Quinnipiac University Saturday at noon.





 
Print Friendly Version