2024 season | |||
---|---|---|---|
Head coach | Khano Smith | ||
Stadium | Beirne Stadium, Smithfield, RI | ||
USL Championship | Eastern Conference: 11th place | ||
U.S. Open Cup | Third Round | ||
Highest home attendance | 5,252 (March 16) | ||
Lowest home attendance | 3,678 (April 13) | ||
Average home league attendance | 4,258 | ||
Biggest win | LV 1–2 RI (April 20) | ||
Biggest defeat | TB 4–1 RI (March 30) | ||
All statistics correct as of 1:00, May 26, 2024 (UTC). |
The 2024 Rhode Island FC season is the first ever season for Rhode Island FC. The club debuted in the USL Championship, the second tier of professional soccer in the United States.
RIFC announced their first player signing on November 1, 2023, [1] and continued to add players to the team over the course of the winter. By mid-January, the team had announced 15 players under contract, and brought players and coaches together for training camp starting on January 15, 2024.
Training camp was held in outdoors in Smithfield, Rhode Island, and indoors at a facility in North Smithfield, Rhode Island. [2] The team worked out in Rhode Island before continuing on to a two-week session at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, including closed-door friendlies against MLS and MLS reserve clubs. A 6-day training session in Bermuda, capped by two exhibition matches against a Bermuda select team, was held in late February. [3] [4] A free friendly against Providence College's men's soccer team rounded out the team's preseason.
High-profile signings including Koke Vegas, [1] JJ Williams, [5] and reigning USL most valuable player and golden boot winner Albert Dikwa, [6] led to high expectations for an expansion team. The team entered the season with projections of making the USL playoffs, and being a contender for a home playoff game at the end of the season. [7]
The team played its inaugural regular season game against New Mexico United on March 16, 2024, at Beirne Stadium. [8] The game was announced as a complete sellout with attendance of 5,252 people. After falling behind in the second half, RIFC scored an equalizer in stoppage time to finish with a 1-1 draw. The goal was initially credited to Mark Doyle, [9] but was determined to be an own goal scored by New Mexico's Chris Gloster. [10]
After the inaugural home game, RIFC had a two-game road trip to Monterey Bay FC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies. In their initial away game, Albert Dikwa scored the first goal by an RIFC player, following up with a second goal later in the game. [11] Despite Dikwa's brace, the team tied Monterey Bay 2-2. [12] In their game at Tampa, the team took a 1-0 first-half lead, but lost 4-1. [13]
RIFC opened April with a pair of scoreless draws, home against Charleston [14] and Pittsburgh. [15] Goalie Jackson Lee, playing in place of injured Koke Vegas, recorded the first two clean sheets of his career, and was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week for each game. [16] [17]
After not scoring or conceding in consecutive games, RIFC scored and gave up four goals in its U.S. Open Cup debut on April 16 at USL League One side Charlotte Independence. In the Third Round cup game, RIFC was tied 3-3 at the end of regulation, and 4-4 after extra time. During the ensuing penalty shootout, RIFC had a chance to win 4-3 in penalties, but ended up losing 5-4 in seven rounds of shots, with Charlotte advancing over RIFC to the Fourth Round. [18] The eight-goal game was the highest-scoring to that point of the tournament. [19]
Once back in league play, RIFC played at Las Vegas on April 20. Goals by Stephen Turnbull and Noah Fuson were enough to secure the first victory in team history. [20] Turnbull and coach Khano Smith were named to Team of the Week for the goal and for the team's first win. [21]
Playing at home against defending champions Phoenix Rising FC, RIFC closed the month with a 3-1 loss. [22]
No. | Pos. | Player | Transferred from | Fee/notes | Date | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | GK | Koke Vegas | San Diego Loyal | Free transfer | November 1, 2023 | [1] |
28 | MF | Conor McGlynn | Hartford Athletic | Free transfer | November 8, 2023 | [23] [24] |
5 | DF | Grant Stoneman | San Diego Loyal | Free transfer | November 8, 2023 | [25] |
77 | MF | Amos Shapiro-Thompson | New York Red Bulls II | Free transfer | November 9, 2023 | [26] [27] |
14 | FW | Mark Doyle | St Patrick's Athletic | Free transfer | November 21, 2023 | [28] [29] |
7 | MF | Prince Saydee | Hartford Athletic | Free transfer | December 1, 2023 | [30] |
9 | FW | JJ Williams | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Undisclosed fee | December 4, 2023 | [5] |
18 | MF | Joe Brito | Union Omaha | Free transfer | December 7, 2023 | [31] |
16 | DF | Gabriel Alves | Birmingham Legion | Free transfer | December 11, 2023 | [32] |
23 | MF | Marc Ybarra | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | Free transfer | December 14, 2023 | [33] |
15 | DF | Frank Nodarse | Rio Grande Valley FC Toros | Free transfer | December 21, 2023 | [34] |
22 | GK | Jackson Lee | West Virginia Mountaineers | Free transfer | December 22, 2023 | [35] |
3 | DF | Stephen Turnbull | New York City FC | Free transfer | December 29, 2023 | [36] [37] |
17 | MF | Jojea Kwizera | CF Montreal | Free transfer | January 4, 2024 | [38] |
12 | DF | Clay Holstad | Columbus Crew 2 | Free transfer | January 12, 2024 | [39] |
11 | FW | Noah Fuson | Columbus Crew 2 | Free transfer | January 16, 2024 | [40] |
10 | FW | Albert Dikwa | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | Free transfer | January 19, 2024 | [6] |
24 | DF | Karifa Yao | Vancouver Whitecaps | Free transfer | January 23, 2024 | [41] |
21 | MF | Kofi Twumasi | Atlanta United 2 | Free transfer | January 24, 2024 | [42] |
30 | GK | Nate Silveira | Crown Legacy FC | Free transfer | February 20, 2024 | [43] |
19 | MF | Kevin Vang | Providence Friars | Free transfer | February 20, 2024 | [43] |
2 | DF | Nathan Messer | Providence Friars | Free transfer | March 13, 2024 | [43] |
4 | DF | Collin Smith | New England Revolution II | Free transfer | March 29, 2024 | [43] |
25 | MF | Kevin Orduy | Rio Grande Valley FC Toros | Free transfer | April 25, 2024 | [44] |
80 | MF | Isaac Angking | Columbus Crew 2 | Free transfer | April 30, 2024 | [45] |
8 | MF | Jack Panayotou | New England Revolution | Loan | May 10, 2024 | [46] |
No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
---|---|---|---|
1 | GK | ESP | Koke Vegas |
2 | DF | USA | Nathan Messer |
3 | DF | USA | Stephen Turnbull |
4 | DF | USA | Collin Smith |
5 | DF | USA | Grant Stoneman |
7 | MF | LBR | Prince Saydee |
8 | MF | USA | Jack Panayotou |
9 | FW | USA | JJ Williams |
10 | FW | CMR | Albert Dikwa |
11 | FW | USA | Noah Fuson |
12 | DF | USA | Clay Holstad |
14 | FW | IRL | Mark Doyle |
15 | DF | CUB | Frank Nodarse |
16 | DF | BRA | Gabriel Alves |
17 | MF | COD | Jojea Kwizera |
18 | MF | USA | Joe Brito |
19 | MF | USA | Kevin Vang |
21 | MF | GHA | Kofi Twumasi |
22 | GK | AUS | Jackson Lee |
23 | MF | USA | Marc Ybarra |
24 | DF | CAN | Karifa Yao |
25 | MF | COL | Kevin Orduy |
28 | MF | USA | Conor McGlynn |
30 | GK | USA | Nate Silveira |
77 | MF | USA | Amos Shapiro-Thompson |
80 | MF | PUR | Isaac Angking |
On November 20, 2023, Rhode Island FC announced that the Bermuda Football Association would host the team for a week of training from February 23 to 28, 2024. The partnership was spurred by Khano Smith, Rhode Island's manager and a former Bermuda national football team player. [48]
February 7 | Orlando City SC | 3–1 | Rhode Island FC | Kissimmee, Florida |
Report |
| Stadium: Osceola County Stadium | ||
Note: Closed-door scrimmage |
February 13 | Rhode Island FC | 1–0 | New England Revolution II | Bradenton, Florida |
| Report | Stadium: IMG Academy | ||
Note: Closed-door scrimmage |
February 25 | Bermuda Select | 0–8 | Rhode Island FC | Hamilton, Bermuda |
6:00PM | Report | Stadium: Dame Flora Duffy South Field Stadium |
February 27 | Bermuda Select | 1–5 | Rhode Island FC | Hamilton, Bermuda |
8:00PM |
| Report | Stadium: Dame Flora Duffy South Field Stadium |
March 8 | Rhode Island FC | 2–0 | Providence Friars | Smithfield, RI |
7:30PM |
| Report | Stadium: Beirne Stadium |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Charleston Battery | 12 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 27 | 9 | +18 | 27 | Playoffs |
2 | Louisville City FC | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 28 | 9 | +19 | 23 | |
3 | Indy Eleven | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 23 | 20 | +3 | 20 | |
4 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 23 | 12 | +11 | 19 | |
5 | Detroit City FC | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 7 | +4 | 17 | |
6 | Birmingham Legion FC | 11 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 14 | −5 | 15 | |
7 | Loudoun United FC | 12 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 15 | 17 | −2 | 14 | |
8 | North Carolina FC | 12 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 13 | +2 | 14 | |
9 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 12 | −2 | 13 | |
10 | Hartford Athletic | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 21 | −11 | 12 | |
11 | Rhode Island FC | 11 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 16 | −6 | 10 | |
12 | Miami FC | 12 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 25 | −13 | 7 |
Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
11 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 16 | −6 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | −4 |
Last updated: May 25, 2024.
Source: Match reports
All times in Eastern Time Zone.
March 161 | Rhode Island FC | 1–1 | New Mexico United | Smithfield, RI |
4:00PM | Report | Stadium: Beirne Stadium Attendance: 5,252 Referee: Jeremy Scheer |
March 242 | Monterey Bay FC | 2–2 | Rhode Island FC | Seaside, CA |
6:00PM | Report | Stadium: Cardinale Stadium Attendance: 3,359 Referee: Alexis Da Silva |
March 303 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 4–1 | Rhode Island FC | St. Petersburg, FL |
7:30PM | Report | Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Attendance: 6,001 Referee: Elvis Osmanovic |
April 64 | Rhode Island FC | 0–0 | Charleston Battery | Smithfield, RI |
7:30PM | Report |
| Stadium: Beirne Stadium Attendance: 3,729 Referee: Joshua Encarnación |
April 135 | Rhode Island FC | 0–0 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Smithfield, RI |
7:30PM |
| Report |
| Stadium: Beirne Stadium Attendance: 3,678 Referee: Olvin Oliva |
April 206 | Las Vegas Lights | 1–2 | Rhode Island FC | Las Vegas, NV |
8:00PM | Report | Stadium: Cashman Field Attendance: 1,943 Referee: Benjamin Meyer |
April 267 | Rhode Island FC | 1–3 | Phoenix Rising FC | Smithfield, RI |
7:30PM | Report | Stadium: Beirne Stadium Attendance: 4,000 Referee: Sergii Demianchuk |
May 48 | North Carolina FC | 0–0 | Rhode Island FC | Cary, NC |
7:00PM |
| Report | Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 3,187 Referee: Jeremy Flores |
May 119 | Rhode Island FC | 2–2 | Sacramento Republic FC | Smithfield, RI |
7:30PM | Report | Stadium: Beirne Stadium Attendance: 3,974 Referee: Alejo Calume |
May 1710 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | 3–1 | Rhode Island FC | Colorado Springs, CO |
9:00PM | Report | Stadium: Weidner Field Attendance: 8,023 Referee: Greg Dopka |
May 2511 | Rhode Island FC | 0–0 | Louisville City FC | Smithfield, RI |
4:00PM | Report | Stadium: Beirne Stadium Attendance: 4,914 Referee: Jeremy Scheer |
June 112 | Hartford Athletic | v | Rhode Island FC | Hartford, CT |
7:00PM | Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium |
June 813 | Rhode Island FC | v | Detroit City FC | Smithfield, RI |
7:30PM | Stadium: Beirne Stadium |
June 1214 | Memphis 901 FC | v | Rhode Island FC | Memphis, TN |
8:00PM | Stadium: AutoZone Park |
June 2215 | Louisville City FC | v | Rhode Island FC | Louisville, KY |
8:00PM | Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium |
June 2616 | Rhode Island FC | v | El Paso Locomotive | Smithfield, RI |
7:30PM | Stadium: Beirne Stadium |
July 517 | Rhode Island FC | v | Indy Eleven | Smithfield, RI |
7:30PM | Stadium: Beirne Stadium |
July 1318 | Miami FC | v | Rhode Island FC | Miami, FL |
7:00PM | Stadium: Riccardo Silva Stadium |
July 1719 | Birmingham Legion FC | v | Rhode Island FC | Birmingham, AL |
8:00PM | Stadium: Protective Stadium |
July 2720 | Rhode Island FC | v | North Carolina FC | Smithfield, RI |
7:30PM | Stadium: Beirne Stadium |
August 321 | Detroit City FC | v | Rhode Island FC | Hamtramck, MI |
7:00PM | Stadium: Keyworth Stadium |
August 722 | Indy Eleven | v | Rhode Island FC | Indianapolis, IN |
7:00PM | Stadium: Carroll Stadium |
August 1023 | Rhode Island FC | v | Hartford Athletic | Smithfield, RI |
7:30PM | Stadium: Beirne Stadium |
August 1724 | Rhode Island FC | v | Oakland Roots | Smithfield, RI |
7:30PM | Stadium: Beirne Stadium |
August 2425 | Loudoun United FC | v | Rhode Island FC | Leesburg, VA |
7:30PM | Stadium: Segra Field |
August 3126 | Rhode Island FC | v | Birmingham Legion FC | Smithfield, RI |
7:30PM | Stadium: Beirne Stadium |
September 727 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | v | Rhode Island FC | Pittsburgh, PA |
7:00PM | Stadium: Highmark Stadium |
September 1428 | Orange County SC | v | Rhode Island FC | Irvine, CA |
10:00PM | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium |
September 2129 | Rhode Island FC | v | FC Tulsa | Smithfield, RI |
7:30PM | Stadium: Beirne Stadium |
September 2830 | San Antonio FC | v | Rhode Island FC | San Antonio, TX |
8:30PM | Stadium: Toyota Field |
October 531 | Rhode Island FC | v | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Smithfield, RI |
7:30PM | Stadium: Beirne Stadium |
October 1232 | Rhode Island FC | v | Loudoun United FC | Smithfield, RI |
4:00PM | Stadium: Beirne Stadium |
October 1933 | Charleston Battery | v | Rhode Island FC | Mount Pleasant, SC |
7:30PM | Stadium: Patriots Point Soccer Complex |
October 2634 | Rhode Island FC | v | Miami FC | Smithfield, RI |
8:00PM | Stadium: Beirne Stadium |
Along with 15 other teams in the USL Championship, RIFC entered the 2024 U.S. Open Cup in the third round. They played the first ever U.S. Open Cup game in club history in Charlotte, North Carolina against the Charlotte Independence of USL League One. The game ended in a 4–4 draw after extra time, with the Independence advancing to the next round after a penalty shootout. [18]
April 16, 2024 Third Round | Charlotte Independence (USL1) | 4–4 (a.e.t.) (5–4 p) | Rhode Island FC (USLC) | Charlotte, North Carolina |
7:00PM | Report | Stadium: American Legion Memorial Stadium Referee: Shawn Tehini | ||
Penalties | ||||
Place | Pos. | No. | Name | USL Championship | US Open Cup | USLC Playoffs | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | FW | 10 | Albert Dikwa | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
1 | DF | 3 | Stephen Turnbull | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
3 | DF | 12 | Clay Holstad | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
4 | MF | 28 | Conor McGlynn | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
4 | DF | 2 | Nathan Messer | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
4 | FW | 11 | Noah Fuson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
4 | DF | 24 | Karifa Yao | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
4 | DF | 15 | Frank Nodarse | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Own Goals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||
Total | 10 | 4 | 0 | 14 |
Place | Pos. | No. | Name | USL Championship | US Open Cup | USLC Playoffs | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | FW | 11 | Noah Fuson | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
2 | MF | 8 | Jack Panayotou | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
3 | GK | 22 | Jackson Lee | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
3 | DF | 4 | Collin Smith | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
3 | FW | 14 | Mark Doyle | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
3 | FW | 12 | Clay Holstad | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Total | 7 | 2 | 0 | 9 |
Place | Pos. | No. | Name | USL Championship | US Open Cup | USLC Playoffs | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | GK | 22 | Jackson Lee | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
1 | GK | 1 | Koke Vegas | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Total | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
No. | Pos. | Name | USL Championship | US Open Cup | USLC Playoffs | Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | DF | Stephen Turnbull | 3 | 3 | ||||||
4 | DF | Collin Smith | 2 | 2 | ||||||
5 | DF | Grant Stoneman | 2 | 2 | ||||||
7 | MF | Prince Saydee | 1 | 1 | ||||||
10 | FW | Albert Dikwa | 3 | 3 | ||||||
11 | FW | Noah Fuson | 2 | 2 | ||||||
12 | DF | Clay Holstad | 5 | 5 | ||||||
14 | FW | Mark Doyle | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||
15 | DF | Frank Nodarse | 2 | 2 | ||||||
16 | DF | Gabriel Alves | 2 | 2 | ||||||
17 | MF | Jojea Kwizera | 1 | 1 | ||||||
18 | MF | Joe Brito | 1 | 1 | ||||||
21 | MF | Kofi Twumasi | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||||
22 | GK | Jackson Lee | 1 | 1 | ||||||
23 | MF | Marc Ybarra | 3 | 3 | ||||||
24 | DF | Karifa Yao | 3 | 1 | 4 | |||||
28 | MF | Conor McGlynn | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
Total | 35 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 1 |
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