Army Doubles Up VMI 12-6
from press release
LEXINGTON, Va. - Sophomore midfielder Alex Van
Krevel scored three goals on seven shots, while senior attackman
Jeremy Boltus led all players with six points on two goals and four
assists as #12/13 Army posted its first win of 2011 by virtue of a
commanding 12-6 decision at VMI on Saturday afternoon.
The Black Knights improved to 3-0 all-time against the Keydets with
their first road game of the series. Army (1-1) dominated nearly
every statistical category, including a 45-25 advantage in
shots.
"The team played hard from the opening whistle," said head coach
Joe Alberici. "Derek Sipperly did a great job on the face off and
really setting the tone for us early. We pressured a lot
offensively, especially early on. Our defensive effort extended to
the perimeter, which enabled us to get the ball on the ground
several times. We just kept playing the next play and won the game
in the middle of the field."
Sipperly won his first six face offs, the majority of which came
against VMI junior captain Stephen Robarge, who finished 2010
ranked fourth nationally in face offs won.
Army led 2-1 after the first quarter and outshot the Keydets 16-4
in the opening 15 minutes. Sophomore attackman Garrett Thul opened
the scoring after reeling in a pass from sophomore midfielder Pat
Brennan on Army's first man-up opportunity at the 9:26 mark. Van
Krevel followed with his first score of the game just 29 seconds
later, giving the Black Knights a 2-0 lead. VMI's Keith Long got
the Keydets on the board with 1:16 left in the first.
A VMI goal 1:22 into the second quarter leveled the score at 2-2.
That would be the Keydets' last goal of the half, as a stifling
Army defense keyed a 6-2 halftime lead. Van Krevel scored his
second goal before the break, while Hayes, Boluts and junior
midfielder Matt Hurley all found the back of the net once.
Van Krevel wasted no time scoring completing his hat trick, as he
beat VMI goalie Kelly McMinn 46 seconds into the third quarter. The
Black Knights continued to roll, scoring four more goals in the
third, including freshman midfielder Tyler Kamides' first
collegiate goal with five seconds remaining in the third.
Neither team scored over the opening nine minutes of the fourth
quarter until junior attackman Conor Hayes' goal gave Army its
largest lead of the afternoon (12-4) with 5:47 remaining. VMI would
score twice more in the final five minutes, but time ran out on the
Keydets.
VMI's McMinn finished with 18 saves in goal, while All-American
goalie Tom Palesky of Army collected six saves on 12 shots on
goal.
The Black Knights return to action on Sunday, Feb. 27, when they travel upstate to take on No. 2/1 Syracuse at 4 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. The highly anticipated contest will be a rematch of one of the biggest upsets in Army lacrosse history as the Black Knights knocked off then-two-time defending national champion Syracuse in double overtime to open the 2010 NCAA Tournament. Fans in the Hudson Valley unable to make the trip can catch the action live on Time Warner Cable channel 199.
