The University of Rhode Island is not home to your typical college club lacrosse team.
The Rams have held the Continental Lacrosse Conference title for the last three years. Boasting a record of 15 wins and two losses last season, URI entered the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association Division II national championship tournament as the #1-seeded team.
“I think the last two years we have done a great job laying down what success looks like in this program,” URI Head Coach Charlie White said. “We are a force to be reckoned with in MCLA, more than just a club team playing for fun. We are just as competitive as neighboring [NCAA] DI, DII, and DIII programs; we take it just as seriously.”
Last year, URI was defeated by the eventual national champions, University of Dayton, in the second round of the tournament, 14-6. The Rams are now looking towards their upcoming season, hoping to continue the team’s winning traditions over the last several years.
“Definitely a bigger focus this off-season on playing these tougher teams out west, so we are really focused on putting in the work,” fourth-year captain Sam Derotta said.
This year, the Rams are faced with some new changes. Former head coach Larry Madeira announced his retirement after last year, with his assistant coach Charlie White taking his place. White was a former student and player at URI, and has high hopes for his team this year.
“Obviously, we are trying to win a national championship, but I think the goal right now is to take it day by day, not look too far ahead of ourselves,” White said.
On top of the adjustments in the coaching staff, URI is facing a shift in its roster as well. According to the MCLA website, the Rams graduated six fourth-years last season, meaning the underclassmen from last year will be working to fill their roles.
“The hard thing is losing seniors and your leaders year in and year out and bringing in new guys,” third-year Patrick Grover said. “It’s really about keeping the culture that we have, keeping a winning attitude, and knowing we are capable of winning it every year.”
Being ranked as one of the top teams in Division II comes with both attention and pressure from other teams around the country. Coach White and the Rams are looking to silence the noise and focus on playing their game and reaching their goals as a team.
“Rankings are rankings,” White said. “In reality, the tournament is the 16 best teams in the country. It doesn’t matter what you’re ranked; all that matters is how you play. If you give people the opportunity to praise you, you are also giving them the opportunity to knock you down.”
Something that separates URI from other programs is the sense of comradery they have as a team, according to Derrota. The team’s close bond creates an apparent synergy on the field that has allowed them to find the level of success they have seen in recent years.
“It is a great community, a tight-knit group,” Derotta said. “I have gotten close with a lot of the guys here and honestly met some of my best friends on this team. It’s been a great experience.”
With their spring season rolling just around the corner, the Rams are poised to continue the winning traditions that the program has grown accustomed to.