Rhode Island (5-9, 2-5 A-10)
Starters: Cumins, Basuel, Timpanaro, Dellecave, McHugh, Baldwin, Shield, Au, Gill, Pauline, Wymes, Phelps (GK)
Substitutes: Carpenter, Licare, Iler, Dunn, Howlett, Jackson

VCU (10-4, 6-1 A-10)
Starters: Palmer, Koeneke, Eilbacher, Wirth, Epperly, Lee, Schromsky, Bornyek, Doyen (GK), Feemster, Bostian, Kozak
Substitutes: Unzicker, OKeefe, Ohle, Bennett, Morgan, Garcia, Carrillo (GK)

How it Happened
Rhode Island battled throughout but ultimately dropped a 14-11 decision to league-leading VCU on Saturday.

VCU came out strong, building a 5-1 advantage by the end of the first quarter. Sophomore Kate Cumins scored Rhody's lone goal in the opening period, burying a free-position opportunity at 10:21 as URI was held off the board for the remainder of the quarter.

Rhode Island responded with a strong second quarter push, opening the period with back-to-back tallies from freshman Ashlyn Carpenter and grad student Caitlin Dellecave to cut the deficit to 5-3. VCU answered with a pair to regain a four-goal cushion, but Cumins took over from there- netting a hat trick in the quarter- before Caralie Basuel found the back of the net to cap a 4-0 run and even the score at 7-7 heading into the break.

Out of halftime, the teams traded goals early in the third. VCU struck first before sophomore Nicolette Licare answered to knot things back up at 8-8. The visitors then pieced together a 3-0 run to seize momentum and an 11-8 lead. MJ Timpanaro converted from the eight-meter to stop the run and pull Rhody within two, but VCU added a late goal to take a 12-9 edge into the fourth.

Rhode Island made one final push in the closing quarter, as Carpenter and Licare found the back of the cage on consecutive possessions to trim the deficit to one at 12-11. However, that's as close as Rhody would get, with VCU closing the game on a 2-0 run to secure the 14-11 win.

Inside the Box Score

• Sophomore Kate Cumins had a team-best four goals and added four ground balls.
• VCU is tied for first in the Atlantic 10 standings with their 6-1 record.
• Rhode Island's 11 goals mark the second-most VCU has allowed in Atlantic 10 play this season, behind only the 15 it gave up to Richmond on March 7.
• Freshman Celie Shield finished with a game-high eight draw controls. 
• VCU had a slight edge in the circle, finishing with 14 draw controls compared to Rhody's 13.
• Casey Phelps made nine saves between the posts for Rhody. 

Up Next
Rhode Island hits the road for its game at George Mason on Saturday, April 18. Game time is set for 12:00 p.m.