Rhode Island FC Defeats Hartford Athletic in First Ever-Home Derby Match

Photo courtesy of Rhode Island FC

After breaking a winning streak last week, Rhode Island FC (RIFC) came back with a vengeance this past weekend to defeat regional rival Hartford Athletics 3-0 in the first-ever home derby match. It’s an especially sweet victory considering the Ocean State’s newest soccer league had been confidently teasing the opposing team with the nickname ‘Hartford Pathetic’ in the days leading up.

Photo by Kait Murray

A sold-out crowd of more than 5,000 football fans packed Bryant University’s Beirne Stadium on Saturday and watched as RIFC dominated the field. The club hit the ground running from the first whistle, nearly scoring in the fifth minute, but Hartford put up a good fight before finally surrendering a header from Grant Stoneman (off a curling free kick by Jojea Kwizera) later in the first half. Even more exciting, the opening score was a career first RIFC goal for Stoneman.

Hartford came close to squaring things up twice before the break, but ultimately didn’t deliver. In the second half, RIFC managed to double their lead with another powerful header during the forty-ninth minute, this time by Frank Nodarse with kicking assistance from Noah Fuson (his sixth of the season). They continued to pile on the pressure throughout the remaining minutes, finally cinching the win with an open net goal from Connecticut native Joe Brito. In total, the team outshot Hartford twenty to seven.

The win matches the biggest margin of victory in club history (with its other three-goal wins being against Louisville City FC and El Paso Locomotive FC). It also marks its ninth triumph out of its last ten matches, and its seventh shutout.

If you are interested in catching the action in person, RIFC’s next two-match homestand against Oakland Roots SC is slated for August 17 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase at rhodeislandfc.com/tickets.