CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland State (3-7, 1-2) dropped its first home conference game to VMI (8-2, 2-1) 11-9 on Saturday afternoon. The game was the second-ever outside and the first-ever in the NEC.

VMI claimed the first lead as Alex Baber found the back of the net two minutes into the game. Dylan Tomarchio evened the score off an assist from Robbie Brazanskas with 11:14 remaining in the first quarter.

The Keydets struck with the next two goals, reclaiming a 3-1 lead with 5:35 to go in the quarter. After Tomarchio and Brazanskas linked up again, the visitors scored with 32 seconds to go to lead 4-2.

Will Adair and Wyatt Robinson bagged consecutive unassisted goals, tying the game at four apiece with 9:59 remaining in the half. VMI matched the goals to go back in front 6-4 with 5:26 left in the quarter.

Amiri Austin got a tally back 25 seconds later, but VMI found the back of the net with 2:31 showing to lead 7-5 at halftime.

VMI started the second half scoring five minutes in, extending the margin to 8-5. An unassisted Jacob Lubrant goal followed by Tomarchio's hat-trick with 5:21 remaining brought the Green and White to within 8-7. However, the Keydets closed the frame with a pair of unanswered goals to lead 10-7.

Austin bagged his second of the game to get within a pair with 9:43 to go in regulation. Eight minutes would go by before the visitors struck to make it 11-8.

Michael Care notched the final goal off a pass from Alex Van Voorhis as the Vikings fell 11-9.

Each team finished with 34 ground balls as Robbie Stewart tied the program record with 14. He also went 17-of-24 in the faceoff circle. Justin Dalum finished with 15 saves.

Tomarchio's hat-trick was his first of the year and Austin finished with multiple tallies for the third time this season.

The Vikings head out to face Mercyhurst on Saturday, April 4, at 2 p.m.