Rhode Island (1-0)
Starters: Phelps (GK), Sa. MacDonald, Basuel, Sy. MacDonald, Timpanaro, Dunn, Sheldon, Myers, Lawson, Hermans, Koroly, Dellecave
Substitutes: Gill, Albrecht, McHugh, Kirk
 
Merrimack (0-2)
Starters: Lawrence (GK), Haskell, Fielder, Boneau, Atkinson, Ingenito, Schnider, Mitchell, Roche, Juvelier, Burchfield, Castellano
Substitutes: Given, Brennan, Tobin
 
How it Happened
Despite the frigid, windy conditions Rhode Island got off to a hot start by rallying from a four-goal deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat Merrimack 11-10 in the first NCAA Division I match in program history Monday afternoon. Calli Dunn's goal with less than a minute left proved to be the difference.
 
With gusts of wind up to 43 miles per hour causing the feels-like temperature to dip into single digits, it was a chilly day for the brave souls who saw history at Meade Stadium. The Rams were able to control play for much of the first half. Visiting Merrimack got on the board just 45 seconds into the match with a goal by Lindsay Atkinson. Rhody tied the game two minutes later when Caralie Basuel scored the first goal in program history.
 
Rhode Island took its first lead of the match with 2:59 to go in the opening quarter when Caitlin Dellecave scored off an assist from Calli Dunn to make the score 3-2. The Rams stayed in front for the remainder of the half as Basuel scored four times in the half and Brinley Myers added one, helping Rhody take a 6-4 advantage into the half.
 
The third quarter belonged to Merrimack, as the visitors scored five unanswered goals to build a 9-6 lead leading into the final period. Atkinson got Merrimack within one with her third goal of the day little more than four minutes into the third quarter. Kaitlin Roche got ahead of the field for the Warriors and scored her first goal of the season with 8:11 left in the third, tying the score. A free position goal by Merrimack's Hailey Schnider put the guests up 7-6 with 5:29 left in the third. Allison Lamphere and Dylan Lee scored goals just 33 seconds apart late in the quarter to create a three-goal lead for the Warriors.
 
Atkinson's fourth goal of the day pushed the lead to 10-6 with 11:30 remaining.
 
Rhody's Basuel led a late surge. She scored three times in just over two minutes to make it a one-goal game. Basuel broke the Merrimack run with a man-up goal at 10:44 of the fourth. She scored again 1:17 later to make it 10-8 as the Rams began to take momentum back. The Basuel show continued when she netted a free position shot with 8:38 to go to make the score 10-9.
 
The Rams completed the rally and tied the game on a goal from Kate Cumins. She took a pass from Brinley Myers and scooped a low shot in to knot the score at 10-10 with 2:44 left. Calli Dunn gave Rhode Island the game winner with 51 seconds left.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Sophomore Caralie Basuel – who scored the first goal in program history – led the offense with seven goals.
• She added a match-high nine draw controls.
• Graduate student Caitlin Dellecave led the Rams with three assists and added one goal.
• Sophomore Brinley Myers, freshman Kate Cumins and sophomore Calli Dunne all scored once for the Rams.
• Goalie Casey Phelps made 12 saves to earn the win.
• Rhode Island had a 15-9 edge in draw controls.
• The Rams put 21 of their 27 shots on goal

Up Next
Rhode Island has a quick turnaround before hosting Central Connecticut State Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 2 p.m.