The University of Rhode Island men’s club lacrosse team split its matches this weekend against Bridgewater State University on Saturday and the University of Maine on Sunday.

Starting on Saturday, the Rams battled through the rain to put up a fight against BSU, but it wasn’t enough, losing by one goal with the final score being 11-10.

With the playing conditions being a contributing factor to the outcome for URI, the team knew that they were going to have to play out of their comfort zone going into Saturday.

“The first game we played, we let a lot of the elements get to us,” URI Head Coach Charlie White said. “I think that Saturday was just not what we’re accustomed to seeing, but it doesn’t matter what bad things happen to you, but rather how you respond to those things that matters.”

After a slow start to the weekend against BSU on Saturday, the team responded immediately with a victory against Maine, where every player was a contributing factor to the win.

The Rams started off hot against Maine, getting out to an early eight-point lead in the first half, making it an 11-3 game. They stayed consistent on offense and defense, adding seven more goals in a commanding 18-4 win.

“Sunday we dominated from start to finish,” White said. “A lot of guys got on the board and contributed in different ways that we’re not used to seeing. It was a great win all around, and it was a great way to bounce back from the loss on Saturday night.”

With the Rams being the reigning Coastal Lacrosse Conference Division II Champions, they look to repeat again this year, which would make it their fourth championship in a row. However, with a record of 4-5, the stats on paper aren’t looking as promising as years prior. Nonetheless, White doesn’t believe that the record tells the whole story for this season.

“I think in ways, they’re better than teams in years past,” White said. “I like where we’re at right now despite our record. We’re growing as a team, and we’re getting better every single day. We have all the ingredients to have a successful end of the season, so it’s all about how we respond from here.”

Keeping that same energy, the team is staying motivated heading into the rest of the season with one thing on their mind: the conference title.

“This team can prove that they’re just as good as teams in years past by winning a conference championship,” White said. “That’s the goal right now. These guys want to be out there for each other, so I’m looking to see some fight going forward.”

The Rams look to climb up the rankings by continuing their regular season play on Friday at 7 p.m. against the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

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