Women’s lacrosse kicks off debut season, makes history with pair of wins

The University of Rhode Island women’s lacrosse team officially kicked off its inaugural season at home in a thrilling victory over Merrimack College on Monday and a commanding win against Central Connecticut State University on Wednesday.

Merrimack started the game with a goal from second-year Lindsay Atkinson in the opening 45 seconds of the first quarter. Rhody went on to tie the game just two minutes later with a goal from second-year Caralie Basuel, making it the first in program history. Merrimack quickly responded with a goal from first-year Brooke Brennan. Basuel added her second goal late in the first off of a penalty shot.

The back-and-forth battle continued for most of the first quarter until URI took its first lead of the game with a goal from fifth-year Caitlin Dellecave. Basuel added another to give the Rams a 4-2 edge going into the second quarter.

URI came out strong in the second quarter with Basuel scoring yet again, despite Merrimack’s aggressive defense that racked up 10 penalties throughout the game.

The Warriors responded with a goal from first-year Hailey Schnider. Second-year Brinley Myers added a sixth for the Rams, but was countered by a Merrimack goal from Atkinson. The Rams went into halftime up 6-4.

Merrimack dominated the third quarter, tallying five unanswered goals to take a 9-6 lead heading to the fourth quarter. Atkinson narrowed Merrimack’s deficit to just one with her third goal of the afternoon slightly over four minutes into the third. Second-year Kaitlin Roche then broke free for the Warriors, scoring her first goal of the season at 8:11 to even the score. Schnider gave Merrimack a 7-6 lead on a free-position goal with 5:29 left in the quarter. Third-year Allison Lamphere and second-year Dylan Lee added goals in the final minute of the third, 33 seconds apart, to put Merrimack up by three.

Atkinson’s fourth score of the afternoon pushed the Warriors lead to 10-6 with 11:30 remaining. Basuel started a late surge for Rhode Island, netting three goals in over two minutes to bring the margin down to one.

“I just feel so great,” Basuel said. “I’ve been waiting for this day for so long and just showing everyone, with my teammates especially, [I] couldn’t have done it without them.”

The Rams completed the comeback, tying the game on a goal from first-year Kate Cumins. She was fed the ball by Myers, and scored on a low shot to tie the game at 10 with 2:44 remaining. Second-year Calli Dunn then netted the game-winner for Rhode Island with 51 seconds remaining.

“We want to compare ourselves to who we were yesterday,” URI Head Coach Jenna Slowey said. “If we get a little bit better every single time we’re out, then that’s a success to us.”

Following the win, the Rams took on Central Connecticut State on Wednesday afternoon at Meade Stadium.

Rhode Island dominated Central Connecticut State early, opening with a score 22 seconds into the game and finishing with an 18-1 victory. Myers gave the Rams an early lead with an unassisted goal, and Basuel added to the score with two goals during a first quarter that ended with Rhody leading 5-1. The Rams held a 13-3 shot advantage and controlled the offensive tempo for most of the quarter.

Rhode Island continued its strong play in the second quarter, shutting out the Blue Devils and depositing six more goals. Dunn scored twice, and Dellecave added two goals and two assists. The Rams extended their margin to 11-1 with 32 seconds to go in the half, when they initiated a running clock.

Rhode Island did not allow a shot on goal in the first quarter and limited CCSU to just eight overall shots for the game. The Rams recorded the final 14 goals, taking their second consecutive win.

The Rams will continue their season on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Meade Stadium against Rider University. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.