Rhode Island FC Draws First-Ever Match at Centreville Stadium

Maybe their shooting boots are back at Beirne Stadium at Bryant University

Photo Courtesy of Rhode Island FC

Rhode Island FC has certainly suffered from more than a fair share of injuries so far this season, but the team they trotted out to play San Antonio FC was an interesting starting XI. This was Rhode Island’s home opener, and not just their home opener, but the grand opening of their brand-new soccer-specific stadium.

The squad certainly played their hearts out and made some good plays, and head coach Khano Smith will surely be proud of how hard they fought, but the team didn’t do themselves any favors today. They didn’t even have a true striker on the pitch until Albert “Chico” Dikwa came on for midfielder Joe Brito in the 60th minute.

Despite all that, Rhode Island FC had several great chances (although so did San Antonio). In the first half, virtually all of Rhode Island’s shots were missed. In the second half, they continued missing must-score shots, or they shot them straight at SAFC goalkeeper Richard Sánchez.

Now, they did get a few good shots off, which Sánchez made incredible diving saves on. Midfielder Maxi Rodriguez in particular nearly scored on a free kick from just outside the box towards the end of regulation time, but Sánchez made an incredible save that still resulted in a corner kick for RIFC. Rodriguez has been perhaps the brightest spot for Rhode Island FC this season, and his play as an attacking midfielder has unlocked significant opportunities for the squad’s wingers and strikers, though unfortunately none of those opportunities were taken today.

Rhode Island goalkeeper Koke Vegas also made several great saves and should surely be the man of the match. At one point late in the first half, he managed an incredible save when he came too far off his line and San Antonio attempted to take advantage. Vegas hustled back and leaped to punch the ball away, a ball that seemed certain to find the back of the net. Rhode Island FC is extremely lucky to have two of the best goalkeepers in the USL Championship in Vegas and in Jackson Lee.

Even with the rotation, Rhode Island FC still outplayed San Antonio FC in virtually every metric. None of that matters given the final score, but it certainly calls to mind the first half of last season, before the Tide exploded on their way to a USL Championship Final appearance. Perhaps that’s still in the offing, but that remains to be seen. No one ever wants to have to rely on comebacks, because inevitably some will fall short, and often at the worst times.

We’ll find out whether the rotation was for the upcoming derby against the Revs when they clash at RIFC’s Centreville Stadium on Wednesday, May 7th, at 7:30 PM ET. The New England Revolution have very publicly struggled to build a soccer-specific stadium for many years now, so that Rhode Island FC has built it faster may prove to raise the emotional stakes of the match. Additionally, the many connections between the two teams’ staffs, players, and fan bases ought to make this a must-see game for fans of either team and every soccer fan in the region.