VMI's Scout Ripley
Randall K. Wolf/VMI
VMI's Scout Ripley

Men's Lacrosse

Manhattan rallies late past VMI men's lacrosse

Scout Ripley scored four goals to lead the Keydets

RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Despite tying the game at 10 goals apiece with just a few minutes left to play, the VMI lacrosse team fell just short of victory as host Manhattan College notched four late goals to win, 14-10, Wednesday afternoon at Gaelic Park in Riverdale, New York.
 
The Keydets (0-2) held an early 4-2 advantage in the second quarter and went into the fourth quarter tied with the Jaspers (1-1) at 7-7, but Manhattan managed seven goals in the final stanza to VMI's four to win out at the end of regulation. VMI tied the game at 10-10 with 6:56 to play off a Josh Bass goal assisted by Thomas Williamson, but the Jaspers went on to score four unanswered in the final five minutes for the victory.
 
After an early Manhattan goal, the Keydets tied it up at 1 apiece on a Hartley Jordan goal assisted by Michael Santos. Following a Jasper goal to open the second period, VMI scored three unanswered goals by Bass, Luke Rusterucci and Santos to move ahead, 4-2, and did not allow another Manhattan goal to go into halftime with the scoring advantage.
 
After the teams scored three goals apiece over the first 12 minutes of the third quarter, the Jaspers scored two late goals in the period to gain momentum going into the final period with the scored tied at 7-7.
 
Following three early Manhattan goals in the fourth quarter, VMI tied it up at 10 apiece with goals from Jordan, Scout Ripley and Bass, but the Keydets could not maintain the rally as Manhattan countered with four late goals for the win.
 
VMI was dominant in faceoff opportunities by claiming 18 of 27 as freshman Diego Markie won 10 of 16 attempts and junior Preston Lalicker won eight of 11. Manhattan countered by keeping the Keydets scoreless on four extra-man opportunities. VMI won the ground ball battle by a 36-30 count.
 
Ripley finished the game with four goals to lead VMI while Jordan and Bass both had two. Santos and Rusterucci finished with one goal apiece. Jordan was credited with two assists.
 
The Keydets return to action Monday afternoon with a matchup at Hampton University in a nonconference tilt. The opening faceoff is set for 3 p.m. in Hampton, Virginia.