MLAX Monmouth vs. VMI 3-8-2025
Anya Kazmierczak
11
Winner VMI VMI 6-1
10
Monmouth MON 3-4
Winner
VMI VMI
6-1
11
Final
10
Monmouth MON
3-4
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
VMI VMI 1 3 1 6 11
Monmouth MON 2 4 4 0 10

Game Recap: Lacrosse |

Lacrosse mounts fourth quarter comeback to top Monmouth

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Down 10-5 going into the final period, the VMI lacrosse team rallied for six goals over the final 15 minutes while allowing zero as the Keydets mounted an amazing fourth quarter comeback to defeat host Monmouth University by an 11-10 score Saturday morning at Kessler Stadium in West Long Branch, New Jersey.
 
The win – VMI's fifth consecutive victory - moves the Keydets to 6-1 on the season to continue their best start to a season in 33 years since opening the 1992 campaign with an 8-1 start. The five straight wins ties the longest win streak in program history dating back to 1990.
 
Down 0-3 in the all-time series with the Hawks, the Keydets also picked up their first ever win against Monmouth as the schools have now faced each other four times since the 2016 season. It was also VMI's first win at Kessler Stadium in three attempts.
 
 
The Comeback
Down 10-5, VMI's Austin English made the first goal of the rally at the 12:17 mark with an unassisted goal. Luke Rusterucci then earned his first goal of the game at the 11:01 mark off a Ty Yonas assist to cut the deficit to 10-7.
 
After two Monmouth penalties, Yonas then earned a man-up goal off a Rusterucci assist at the 9:47 mark to put VMI down by just two with a little under 10 minutes to play in regulation.
 
Dayton Bagwell, who scored five of VMI's 11 goals on the day, then quickly added another tally seconds later at the 9:28 mark to put the Keydets within one goal.
 
VMI's Matt Nichols made it happen at the 4:54 mark by putting in the equalizer at 10-10 with just a few minutes to play.  Bagwell would score the game-winning goals moments later at the 4:18 mark off a Jack Duncan-Bloom assist to give VMI its second and final lead of the game to make the comeback complete.

VMI Head Coach James Purpura
"I'm at a loss for words. I'm so incredibly proud of this team and specifically this group of first classmen. We were a little sloppy early, but the resilience of this group to keep battling until the final whistle and find a way to win is one I will remember. Offensively, it took us a little while to get going. Credit their defense; they historically have had really good defenses and that continued. Once we got going, we got some depth scoring and a lot of guys stepped up. Dayton Bagwell led the way and continues his great start.

"Defensively, we played well and earned some really important stops at critical moments. When there were some mistakes, Damian Levin made key saves. We cleared the ball well to secure possessions. Our young face-off duo battled to go 50/50 at the face off X and won 5/6 in the fourth quarter. We certainly had some moments where we need to be better, but for this team to battle back and find a way to win is huge. I look forward to watching the tape, making corrections and getting back to work with this group as we start conference play."
 
Key Stats
* Bagwell's five-goal output was his third-highest of the season as he logged seven at St. Bonaventure in the season opener and six versus Iona on Feb. 22
* Rusterucci's goal kept his scoring streak intact as he has now put up at least one goal in 40 consecutive games dating back to his freshman year in 2022
* Jack Duncan-Bloom and Luke Mryncza also put in goals for VMI in the first half
* VMI keeper Damian Levin had another outstanding game by tracking down 17 saves – including two in the final period – as the VMI defense limited Monmouth's scoring opportunities down the stretch. Monmouth goalie Tommy Heller logged nine saves on the day
* Both teams won 12 face-offs apiece in the tight contest
* VMI converted on two of four extra-man opportunities and allowed only two extra-man opportunities for Monmouth with limited penalties
* Ty Cafarelli led the Hawks with three goals on the day while Brendan Dundas and Connor Gorman both had two
 
Up Next
The Keydets return to Lexington for a two-game homestand starting next Saturday, March 15, against Le Moyne at noon on Drill Field #2 as Northeast Conference play gets underway.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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