Box Score
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.
– The VMI lacrosse team squared off with
the only other NCAA Division I team in the state on Tuesday night, falling to
2011 national champion University of Virginia 19-5 at Klöckner Stadium.
Fresh off the 2011
title, Virginia, ranked No. 1 in both the USILA Coaches Poll and Nike/Inside
Lacrosse media poll, the Cavaliers (2-0) put together a run of six unanswered
goals to break the game open in the first quarter.
VMI's offensive efforts
were led by Keith Long, who put away two goals and had one assist for three
points. Russell East, Drew Leonard and Tyler Griffith all contributed one goal.
Anderson Caldwell accounted for VMI's second assist.
The first midfield
line for the Keydets, Long, Griffith and Chris Kitchen, continued to produce, tallying
four of VMI's five goals.
Face-off specialist
Stephen Robarge had his best outing of the season, going 19-of-26 while snaring
a game-high 11 groundballs. He was the only player with double-digit
groundballs, with the game's second-best coming from linemate Chris Rosse, who
had five.
Virginia has been
one of the few teams to give Robarge trouble during his time VMI. Entering the
game, Robarge had a 37.5 face-off percentage (24-64) against the Cavs, but
nearly doubled his career efforts at the X Tuesday night. He also doubled his
career groundball totals against UVa.
With his 11
groundballs, Robarge, VMI's all-time leading groundball getter, logged his 12th
straight game as the leading, or co-leading, groundball getter, dating back to
last season's game at Virginia.
Virginia's scoring
was led by Matt White and Mark Coverton, who each posted a hat trick along with
one assist. Senior attackman Steele Stanwick finished with two goals and five
assists. Along with Stanwick, Chris Bocklet, Owen Van Arsdale, Colin Briggs and
Matt Cockerton all tallied two goals.
The game featured
four players named to the Tewaaraton Trophy Watch List, including VMI's
Robarge. Joining Robarge on the list were 2011 Tewaaraton Trophy winner
Stanwick, Briggs and Chris LaPierre.
In the cage for VMI,
senior Kelly McMinn made 12 saves in his 52 minutes of action. It is his third
start this season with double-digit saves and is the most saves in the first three
games of a season (49) since the 1999 season when Cregg Burns made 47 in the
first trio of contests. McMinn was relieved by J Rice for the final eight
minutes of the game. Rice made one save.
Behind McMinn's
efforts and the defense recording six caused turnovers, the Keydets held the
Cavaliers to their fewest goals against VMI since the 2009 season.
Virginia, which narrowly
edged Drexel on Saturday 9-8, outshot VMI 45-27 while holding a 37-30
groundball advantage.
VMI (0-3) was
assessed four penalties resulting three man-up chances for Virginia. Two
penalties, an unnecessary roughness and push with possession, were called on
VMI simultaneously. The Cavaliers were called for three penalties, denying VMI's
man-up unit a goal.
The Keydets will
play their home opener on Saturday morning when the Hawks of Saint Joseph's
University visit Lexington. Action is set for 11 a.m. at Foster Stadium.
