BETHESDA, Md. – Seven different VMI Keydets scored, led by Wesley Sanders’ two goals, but Chris Walsch tallied five scores for the Air Force Falcons to lead them to a 12-8 win in non-conference lacrosse action Sunday afternoon at The Landon School in Bethesda, Md.
The Keydets (0-6) fell behind 6-1 early, but rallied to close to within 6-5 late in the third period. Walsch scored at 3:29 and 2:18 of the third, however, to start a five-goal run for the Falcons (3-4) that put the game away. VMI scored three of the final four goals, but could not overcome the deficit.
Walsch led all scorers with five goals and two assists for a total of seven points. Keith Dreyer had four goals and one helper, while Christopher Allen chipped in three goals as well. For the Keydets, Sanders had two goals and Dan Bull had a goal and an assist.
One day after committing 29 turnovers, the Keydets cut that number to 12 and improved their clear percentage to 13 of 15 as well. Air Force held a 36-23 edge in shots, while Evan Windisch made 12 saves for the Keydets and Doug Gouchoe stopped six shots for Air Force.
The game started slowly, with only two Air Force goals being scored in the first 12-plus minutes. Tom Nofi got VMI on the board with 2:16 left in the first, scoring off a Bull assist to make it a 2-1 game.
The teams then traded 4-goal runs, with VMI’s cutting the Air Force lead to 6-5 in the third and setting the stage for Walsch to open the Falcons’ decisive spurt. Brad Nardella, Tyler Prasnicki and Bull scored late for the Keydets.
VMI lacrosse will return to action March 14, as the Keydets play host to Jacksonville at Drill Field #2. Action gets underway at noon.
