Dominant first half pushes Spiders past Rams

It was a meeting of familiar faces fitting for Alumni Day in the clash between the University of Richmond women’s lacrosse team and the University of Rhode Island on Saturday, March 29. 

The homecoming for Rams head coach Jenna Slowey – who served on the UR coaching staff from 2017 to 2021 with now-UR Head Coach Anne Harrington – however, was quickly spoiled in a 13-8 Spider victory.

If in their debut season the Rams had any qualms facing the two-time defending Atlantic 10 champions, there was no indication early on as URI matched each of the Spiders’ efforts. 

The Spiders began with a warning shot just wide of the cage, followed seconds later by senior midfielder Grace Muldoon’s 24th goal of the season. Not far behind, the Rams found an answer for every one of UR’s efforts, playing to a 2-2 tie after five minutes.

Junior attacker Charlotte Edwards found the back of the net with 8:49 to go, kicking off a 6-0 UR run as the floodgates opened on the Rams, who conceded a trio of free position goals trying to keep pace with the surging UR attack.

“We were just playing really connected… playing for each other rather than playing for yourself.” Harrington said in a postgame press conference.

The Spiders continued to surge into the second period, picking up four more goals as URI made little headway into the Spiders’ defensive zone. 

UR peppered seven shots on goal – totaling 18 for the half – with Muldoon rounding out a hat trick and Edwards cashing her second goal of the afternoon. The Spiders’ commanding 12-3 halftime lead reflected a dominant on-the-field effort; senior midfielder Caroline Murphy surpassed 100 career draw controls, while Muldoon pitched in 8 on the day to stymie the Rams’ offense.

Senior attacker Colleen Quinn’s fourth goal of the day would stand as the only point tallied by UR in the third period despite five shots on goal. Notching a goal themselves, URI outgained the Spiders in ground balls and draw controls but could not yet chip away at their deficit as time increasingly slipped away from the Rams.

Entering the final frame, URI began to slowly make up ground, recording a goal less than a minute in to bring the score to 13-5. Four minutes later, the Rams struck once more. In all, URI netted four goals on the quarter, quieting the Spider offense, which recorded just one shot on frame to the Rams’ five.

 Fortunately for the home side, it was too little too late, and URI’s comeback was left at 13-8 when the clock hit zero.

“Really happy to get another win in the conference slate.” Harrington said. “[URI] had a great plan on defense and on the draw unit… their offense was putting away their shots, they came out ready to go, and just proud of us for pushing through and holding on.”

UR extended its win streak to four with the win, for a 7-5 overall mark and a 5-1 record good enough for second in the A-10. The Rams fell to 1-3 in conference with the loss, with a 5-6 record on the season as a whole. 

The Spiders will be back in action April 5, on the road against the University of Massachusetts Amherst at 11 a.m. UR split their series with the Minutewomen last season, with both contests being a one point margin. The Spiders will look to pick up a statement win against the last undefeated team and projected runner-up of the A-10. 

Contact sports editor Scott Valentine at scott.valentine@richmond.edu