Mother Nature had different plans for the Men's Club Lacrosse Senior Day matchup against Columbia University on Sunday, April 19. Originally slated for 2 p.m., the senior ceremony was interrupted by a thunderstorm that delayed the opening face-off by 30 minutes. However, the wait did nothing to dampen the Rams' momentum, as they dismantled the Lions 19-4.

Before the rain arrived, the program recognized eight seniors for their contributions: Tyler Brown, Gavin Duggan, Neil MacGillivray, Liam Simoneau, Zach Pettit, Will Giordano, Brendan Grace, and Matt Viserto.

Once play began, Rhode Island dominated the first quarter with eight unanswered goals. When Columbia finally got on the board with one minute left in the period, senior attack Zach Pettit offered an instantaneous response. Pettit, the game's leading scorer, finished the afternoon with a staggering seven points on three goals and four assists.

The Rams' explosive first quarter was partly aided by the clock; due to the weather delay, officials shortened the final three quarters to 10-minute periods. Fans were in full agreement with the decision to pivot to shorter play as temperatures dropped and winds picked up.

The scoring surge continued into the second quarter, where three URI goals and a lone Columbia response sent the teams into halftime with a 12-2 scoreline. The offensive onslaught was a masterclass in veteran leadership; Gavin Duggan recorded a hat trick and an assist, while Neil MacGillivray added two goals, an assist, and three ground balls. Senior defenseman Tyler Brown was also a vital factor in the transition game, notching two assists.

The third quarter saw more of the same, with URI outscoring the Lions 4-0. While the offense hummed, the senior defensive unit stifled any hope of a Columbia comeback. Will Giordano scooped four ground balls and caused two turnovers, while Brendan Grace added a ground ball and a caused turnover. Matt Viserto was a force in the middle of the field, causing three turnovers and winning all three of his face-off opportunities.

Columbia managed to double its goal total in the fourth, but Rhode Island tacked on three more to secure the 19-4 victory. Senior goalie Liam Simoneau anchored the win, recording four saves and allowing just four goals.

The Rams have now won two straight and will look to finish the regular season strong against the University of Connecticut. Rhode Island will then face Columbia again in the first round of the Continental Lacrosse Conference (CLC) D-II Championship in Weymouth, Massachusetts, on April 25.

Having won the CLC title every year since 2022, the Rams are hunting for their fifth straight championship and a surge of momentum heading into the national tournament.