It was a busy weekend for the University of Rhode Island athletic teams. Contributing sports writer Sam Murray has all the updates for you about this week. Contributing Sports Reporter Ian Weiner has you covered on how the Rams cross country teams finished at the Atlantic 10 Championships.
Football
The football team got out of their spooky slump and defeated the Albany Great Danes this past Saturday 31-14. Brandon Ginnetti was a monster on defense and became the first Ram since Isaiah Grier to record three sacks in a game, while JaJuan Lawson was scary efficient throwing for two touchdowns in now three consecutive games. Kwadir Brown was also a terrifying presence on defense, leading the team with seven tackles, his first career sack and interception. The team will welcome the top ranked FCS team in the country James Madison on Saturday, in what will certainly be a monster mash of a game.
Men’s Soccer
The men’s soccer team must have been in “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” as the other Rams, Virginia Commonwealth University, bested them Saturday 2-1. Five yellow cards, including one issued to the team late in the game, haunted Rhode Island as VCU scored two unanswered goals in the second half to drive the nail in the coffin. Tyler Dickson headed in the lone goal for Rhode Island off of a screaming corner kick from Emil Jesman Sunde early in the first half. The team looks to exact some blood against Duquesne on Wednesday.
Women’s Volleyball
Volleyball frightened Fordham this past Friday and shut them out 3-0. Live Lunde Fossdal did her best Michael Myers impression and had 12 kills on 21 attempts, while Jessie Blaze contributed 19 digs that would make any gravedigger proud. They look to extract revenge against Dayton and avenge their last loss to the Flyers this Friday.
Men’s Hockey
“Scary Good” Joe Augustine recorded career wins 600-601 this past Friday and Saturday as the Rams skated past Niagara 4-2 eerily in both nights. Jake Salisbury contributed five total points over the weekend, two on Friday and three on Saturday, while goalie JT Ketzenberger strapped on his Jason mask and got to work killing 60 of 64 shots total. They will take on the Mother of Dragons which happens to be the Drexel University Dragons this Friday and Saturday.
Men’s Cross Country
This past weekend, the URI men’s cross country team competed in the Atlantic 10 Championships located in Leesburg, Virginia. The men finished 10th out of the 14 teams in the conference. Senior Alec Font was the first Ram to cross the finish line in 30th place, with a time of 26:18. Carrick Fortna was the next Rhode Island runner to finish. He came in 40th place with a time of 26:30. The men ran an eight-kilometer course. “We are very pleased with the way they ran, and how they did it,” Rams head coach John Copeland said. “Everybody was healthy, and all the little things came together.” This was the Men’s best finish since 2000.
Women’s Cross Country
This past weekend, Rhode Island’s women’s cross country team also competed in the Atlantic 10 Championships in Leesburg, Virginia. The women finish 12th out of the 14 teams in the conference. Sophomore Shelby Aarden was the Ram’s top finisher, coming in 27th place with a time of 18:46. Senior Alyssa Brehler was the Ram’s next finisher in 67th place with a time of 19:33. The women ran a five-kilometer course. “Overall, I know the team gave one-hundred percent and that’s all we ever ask for,” head coach Laurie Fait-Melnick said. “We’ve had kind of an up-and-down season because of illness and low iron stores in some of our runners. It takes a good month of supplements and iron-rich sources in your diet, and a few of our runners were not able to run to the ability that they can with regular iron stores.”