Richmond men’s lacrosse defeated University of Kentucky, 26-2, in its home opener on Sunday. This was the first home game for Richmond since the school announced the lacrosse team would become a varsity team next year.
Richmond exerted its dominance over Kentucky early and led, 17-0, at the half. Kentucky did not score until midway through the third quarter.
“I thought they played a great team game,” UR coach Dan Chemotti said of his players. “Even when the score started getting lopsided, they still played as a team.”
Freshman Brad Rigoli, who had two goals and one assist, said the defense had played really well. Richmond did not allow a shot in the first half, he said.
This was also the first game with Chemotti at the helm. Chemotti, who became head coach in November, won a national championship as an assistant coach at Loyola Maryland last year. The players have responded well to the coaching change, freshman Kevin McNamara said.
Rigoli said, “Coach Chemotti has come in and instilled a great deal of discipline and intensity to our program already.”
Chemotti said he had not thought the promotion to a Division I team had an impact on the player’s work ethic too much.
“We always went about [our preparation] like we were a Division I team,” he said.
McNamara said the change to D-1 had certainly been more intense, but they were seeing the benefits on the field.
Rigoli said the promotion has created “more buzz around the organization.”
Richmond’s coaching staff is currently working with a goalie, Brendan Cole, who is new to the team, Chemotti said. The team lost both of its goalies, Chemotti said. The coaches will continue to help Cole get “better and better and get him ready for the top competition.”
McNamara said Cole had not played lacrosse in more than four years.
“He’s obviously rusty, but he’s getting better every day,” he said.
Richmond’s next game is Feb. 23 at West Virginia University.
Contact reporter Jack Nicholson at jack.nicholson@richmond.edu
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