Under the leadership of James Purpura, fourth-year head coach, VMI lacrosse earned seven wins in the 2024 season, the most wins since 2005.—Photo courtesy VMI Athletics.
James Purpura, fourth-year head coach, continues to raise the bar for the VMI lacrosse program as the team is coming off a historic 2024 season.
The Keydets earned seven wins on the year—the most since the 2005 season—as VMI has increased its win totals every season of Purpura’s tenure. VMI had one win in 2021, four in 2022, six in 2023, and seven this season as the program continues to rise. It is one of only two programs in the country to see an increase in wins over four consecutive seasons. VMI narrowly missed out on qualifying for the MAAC Tournament, as the Keydets were battling for the final spot up until the season finale.
VMI also tied for its most Division I wins for a single season since the 1995 campaign in its 41-year program history. Purpura now owns the program’s highest Division I winning percentage in program history, and VMI’s 13 total wins over the past two seasons mark its best stretch in 24 years.
With an impressive offense featuring multiyear starters on the attack line and midfield, VMI scored 183 goals for the year, the second-most in program history for a single season. The Keydets finished fourth in the nation in riding and sixth overall in clearing percentage.
VMI was led by Luke Rusterucci ’25, attackman, who holds the seventh-longest scoring streak in the nation at 33 consecutive games. He totaled 33 points in conference games in 2024, second most in program history for a single season. He has now hit 30 goals in back-to-back seasons, the first Keydet to do so since Matt Gallienne ’00 in 1999–00. Earlier this season, he joined VMI’s prestigious 70-Goal Club and 100-Point Club, both of which only a select number of Keydets have attained in program history. He was named First Team All-MAAC at the conclusion of the season. With one season left to play, Rusterucci is ranked fifth all-time in career points in program history and was one of three VMI cadet-athletes to receive the 2023–24 Intercollegiate Award for all-around success on the playing field.
The offense was also bolstered by A.J. Stamos ’24, midfielder, who joined VMI’s 50-Assist Club in the final game of his career on Senior Day versus Marist College.
Alex Baber ’25 was named a Second Team All-MAAC honoree as a long stick midfielder after totaling 37 groundballs for the season, including a season-best five versus Marist in the season finale. Baber caused seven turnovers on the season, sixth most on the team.
VMI had several welcome additions to its team in 2024, led by Ty Yonas ’27, who was named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team for his efforts. The Reading, Pennsylvania, native played in all 15 games for the Keydets in 2024, including 13 starts as a true freshman. He totaled 17 goals for the year, including hat tricks in the contests versus Queens Feb. 10 and against Wagner April 10, which were both 14-10 wins for the Keydets.
Jack Rogers ’26 excelled at the faceoff position throughout the year and finished the season ranked among the top faceoff specialists in the conference. The Suwanee, Georgia, native was named to the USILA Team of the Week and the MAAC Faceoff Specialist of the Week for his performance against Detroit Mercy in early March, in which he won 22 of 29 faceoffs and logged 10 groundballs. It was his second straight MAAC weekly honor after he earned it the week before following games with Hampton and St. Bonaventure.
The Keydets also excelled academically, as 13 team members were named to the MAAC All-Academic Team after the season for holding a GPA of 3.2 or higher.
