Rhode Island (3-3-2)
Starters: McCarthy (GK), Gilbert, Name, MacDonald, Rice, Sallent, Hagerty, Poon, Kirkpatrick, Scarduzio, Garniss
Substitutes: Samalonis, Cajilig, Rosenfeld, Sylvester, Yee, Highton, Carstensen, Hines, Steinbach

Boston University (0-6-2)
Starters: Braun (GK), Stickelman, Aronson, Porta, Schultz, Gianino, Tyburczy, Matthews, Hanlon, Fagan, Green
Substitutes: Stewart, Osterman, Brown, Savella, Weaver, Powderly, Avellar, Helgadottir, Carr (GK), Kenendy

Scoring Summary
11:45 - URI - MacDonald (Hagerty)
15:58 - URI - MacDonald (Hagerty)
21:18 – BU – Giulianna Gianino (penalty kick)
31:46 – URI – Poon (unassisted)
47:25 – BU – Porta (Helgadottir)

How it Happened 
Rhode Island had its most explosive first half in nearly a decade as it defeated Boston University 3-2 Sunday afternoon.

Rhody scored three times in the opening period. It was the first time since a 4-2 win at Bryant on Sept. 3, 2015 that the Rams had three goals in the opening half. In that win, URI scored four goals in the first 45.

It was the duo of Lauren MacDonald and Sam Hagerty getting the Rams going early. The pair combined on two goals in a span of less than four minutes. In the 12th minute, Hagerty broke down the sideline, making a long run into the corner. She sent a perfect cross to MacDonald, who beat a BU defender to the ball and slipped a one-timer into the net.

In the 16th minute, Hagerty against sent a cross into the box. MacDonald outworked two BU defenders in the box and chipped a shot past Terrier keeper Celia Braun for her second goal of the day.

BU cut into the lead in the 22nd minute, drawing a penalty kick on a foul in the box. Rhody keeper Abby McCarthy guessed correctly with a dive to her right, but she couldn't stop the shot by Giulianna Gianino.

Courtney Poon reinstated a two-goal lead for Rhode Island in the 32nd minute. A cross from the corner was deflected away by the BU defense, but it landed on Poon's foot near the top of the box. She quickly fired a shot into the upper corner of the net.

It was BU striking early in the second half. Less than three minutes into the period, Hugrun Helgadottir lofted a long pass into the box. Margy Porta ran on to the pass and tucked a header inside the left post, beating a diving McCarthy to get the Terriers within one. Cristina Sallent nearly go it back minutes later when she drilled a free kick over the BU wall. The shot beat new BU keeper Bridget Carr, but it slammed off the crossbar and away from harm.

McCarthy came up with the defensive play of the match in the 76 th mionute. BU's Kaiya Stewart collected a pass in the middle of the box and fired a point-blank shot on goal, but McCarthy was perfectly positioned and caught the shot, stopping the potential equalizer.

Inside the Box Score

• Lauren MacDonald posted the second two-goal match of her career. She was also the last Ram to score two in a match, doing so against George Mason on Oct. 1 of last season.
• Sam Hagerty has recorded three assists in her last two matches. She had one assist in her first 70 career matches.
• Rhode Island outshot BU 13-6.
• Of Rhode Island's eight goals this season, seven have come in the first half.
• Sunday marked the first time in 11 matches Rhode Island scored more than one goal, dating back to a 2-1 win over St. Bonaventure on Oct. 12, 2023.
• The last time Rhode Island had three goals in one half was in a 4-3 overtime loss to New Hampshire on Aug. 16, 2016.
• The BU penalty kick goal was the second against Rhode Island in the last three matches.

Up Next 
Rhode Island opens Atlantic 10 play when it hosts La Salle Thursday, Sept. 19. The match begins at 7 p.m. and will stream on ESPN+.