Meet Rhode Island FC’s Two New Local Recruits

New recruit Kevin Vang takes the field. Courtesy of Rhode Island FC.

Less than one month ahead of its  highly anticipated first match on March 16, the newly minted Rhode Island Football Club (RIFC) announced today that it has signed not one, but two homegrown talents: goalkeeper Nate Silveira of East Providence and midfielder Kevin Vang of Cranston. Both players have a storied legacy in Rhode Island soccer.

“To be able to sign two quality players from the state of Rhode Island is really special,” says RIFC Head Coach Khano Smith (get to know him with our Q&A here). “As a club, one of our objectives is to show that there is a pathway to the professional level. Kevin and Nate represent the level of talent coming out of the Ocean State and both have worked extremely hard to get to this point.”

Head coach Khano Smith addresses the locker room. Courtesy of Rhode Island FC.

This is not Silveira’s first brush with the pros — he previously played for North Carolina’s Crown Legacy FC of MLS Next Pro — but having been in the local soccer world since he was a kid, this particular venture has been a long time coming. He first fell in love with the sport when he joined a youth soccer league at four or five years old.

“I kept it going throughout the entirety of my life and decided that one day I’d want to become a pro, and was lucky enough to make that happen,” Silveira says.

Nate Silveira in action. Courtesy of Rhode Island FC.

He went on to play all four years at East Providence High School and was fortunate enough to play in almost every game of his high school career. One particular highlight from that time is one that many local public-school athletes will appreciate all too well.

“East Providence and like other teams at the time didn’t have a very good record against some of the private schools and then one year that we were there, we were able to beat LaSalle at their place when nobody expected us to win,” he says.

From there, Silveira attended Dean College and was named the 2017 NECC Goalkeeper of the Year and earned an All-America honorable mention by the United States Collegiate Athletic Association. He then transferred to the University of Vermont, where he captained the Catamounts during his final two years as well as earned back-to-back America East Goalkeeper of the Year titles. In the summer between his final collegiate campaigns, he also logged 900 minutes and twenty-seven saves while captaining the USL League Two’s Vermont Green FC. Then came his season with Crown Legacy FC, which, he admits, didn’t go the way he wanted.

“I was basically injured all year and I didn’t really get a good start. But then when I found out that [RIFC] was going to be a team, I thought it was a no brainer that I needed to do everything I could to try to make the team. I wanted to make an impact, be a part of their community’s team and be a representation of the community itself,” he says. “Just to show others that you can get to that level.  This is a culmination of all the work I’ve put in and the trust [RIFC has] in me to bring me along on the journey with them and I couldn’t be more grateful to be able to support my hometown team — not very many people get the chance to do that. It’s very special to me and I’m and honored. I think I’ll carry this with me for the rest of my life.”

Like his teammate, Vang is also excited and grateful to be able to play for the Ocean State.

“When they announced that they were going to have a team I was like, yes, I want to be a part of that,” he recalls.

Kevin Vang in action. Courtesy of Rhode Island FC.

The midfielder had also developed a passion for soccer at a young age, having grown up regularly kicking the ball around with family members whom he looked up to. His youth career took off, though, while playing for East Providence’s Bayside FC, where his talent and skills eventually landed him a spot at the New England Revolution Academy. There he caught the attention of U.S. Soccer, who proceeded to recruit him for the U.S. National team Futures Camp in 2015 along with an Under-17 National Team Camp in 2016. While with the Revs, Vang was named captain twice and was also named to the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Eastern Conference Best XI for the 2016-17 season. In 2018, he went on to play for Providence College, making eighty-three appearances and recording four goals and nine assists for the Friars throughout his tenure. But then after graduation, Vang found he was without a team.

“The year 2023 had some ups and downs where I struggled to find a team, so I was basically just training and being active and waiting for this opportunity to come,” he says. “And knowing the head coach and assistant coach from my time at the Revs— I had that connection with them. So, they asked if I was still interested in pursuing [RIFC] and I said yes. And that’s where it all started. I had to grind, but it got me to where I am today.”

He’s also proud to be able to serve as a goal post for aspiring players.

“With my size — I’m like 5’5 — some people in the soccer world may think that I’m too small or can’t achieve this dream,” he explains, “but I want to inspire and be a role model to these kids from Rhode island that they can achieve anything.”

And he’ll get the chance to do just that when RIFC squares off against New Mexico United at Bryant University’s Beirne Stadium on March 16 at 4 p.m. If you’re interested in supporting Silveira, Vang and the rest of the team as they kick off the 2024 USL Championship season, be sure to grab your tickets before they’re gone at rhodeislandfc.com/tickets, or by calling 401-955-RIFC (7432). Some tickets may also be available at the Beirne Stadium box office on matchday, but not guaranteed. (And psst… check back later this week for a special giveaway!).

RIFC players and staff. Courtesy of Rhode Island FC.

Need more motivation? Take it from the players themselves.

“Honestly, the quality we have for the players is second to none. I feel like the front office and the coaching staff did a great job of bringing in top-quality talent. And, based on how our training sessions are going, we’ve been gelling well and getting progressively better day in and day out,” Silveira previews. “I think fans are going to be in for a treat and will see all the work we put in. It’s a very exciting time for Rhode Island in general and we’re excited to be going out there as the first ever squad in team history. It’s a big historic moment. I think, for sure, with the guys that we have, we can get it done on the field and really make some noise in the league this year.”

Vang adds, “I think around the around the US, everybody’s looking forward to what RIFC is about, and I believe we have a good group of guys and an incredible staff with a lot of experience. I’m very excited for everyone to see.”

So, don’t be a stranger, Rhode Islanders.

“I’m sure we’ll have player meet and greets and different opportunities for people to come out and see us,” says Silveira. “For me, personally, I would love to be able to meet as many people as possible and get to know people. Especially being a local kid, I feel like I’ll have a good situation in terms of a bond and relatability to people. But everyone on the team is a good guy — nobody will ever not give you the time of day. We’re just really, really pumped to get it going and we just hope that we can get the fans to the games and hopefully keep them coming back!”

For even more info about RIFC, visit rhodeislandfc.com.