Rhode Island FC Notches First Win of 2025 Season

Nothing like a relaxing soccer match

Rhode Island FC’s first this season, came on the road against Oakland Roots FC, just as it did in their inaugural season last year. If it’d come just one game later, it’d have been on the same exact matchday, even.

Still, this year’s win was much more convincing and impressive, and should help to generate some momentum for a team racing toward the inaugural match at their home stadium, now less than one month away. RIFC’s defense did everything it could — and everything demanded of it — and its attackers got involved in every single way you’d hope they would. A 3-0 away win was the result for Rhode Island, with the team looking every bit as good as they did at their best last season.

Rhode Island FC outplayed Oakland all match, utilizing their classic counter attacking strategy with the fullest force possible. They outshot the Roots by more than double, and put nine times as many shots-on-target. Oakland could have scored every single shot-on-target that they took, and they still would have lost by two.

To be fair, Oakland’s one shot-on-target was a good chance, and it did come before any of Rhode Island FC’s. Goalkeeper Koke Vegas barely fingertip-saved the chipped shot from Oakland defender Julian Bravo. It might have changed the game, but the captain’s great play prevented any chance of that. Rhode Island took advantage in an absolutely flurry as the first half closed.

That flurry began in the first half’s 40th minute, when midfielder Jojea Kwizera won a defensive turnover and fired a cross to striker Albert “Chico” Dikwa, who had made his way right to the mouth of goal and poked in the perfect pass, his first goal of the season. Only two minutes later, RIFC’s new signing, attacking midfielder Maxi Rodriguez saw his shot deflected by Oakland goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh, but unfortunately for the Oakland keeper it fell straight to Rhode Island midfielder Clay Holstad in the penalty area — much closer than his usual range — and he banged it home to give Rhode Island FC a 2-0 lead for his own first of the season.

Finally, just nine minutes later, six minutes into first-half stoppage time, as Holstad fired a long pass from within RIFC’s own 18-yard box all the way to striker JJ Williams and together they badly caught out McIntosh, and Williams calmly touched the ball around the goalkeeper and slotted home his second goal of the season, making him the club’s leading goalscorer and giving Rhode Island a 3-0 lead over Oakland.

From there, RIFC saw a further good chance in the 57th minute, as forward Noah Fuson nearly scored a fourth. After that, Rhode Island looked in such complete control that Head Coach Khano Smith emptied the bench, showed off the club’s depth, and got everyone some minutes. Rhode Island FC saw out the match, showing that fans will have plenty to see when Rhode Island returns home next month.

Until that time, Rhode Island FC plays next in the U.S. Open Cup, playing against the USL League One expansion side, regional rival, and fellow defeater of Hartford Athletic, Portland Hearts of Pine, at 7:00 PM ET on Tuesday, April 15. They then return to USL Championship action the following weekend with an away match against Detroit City FC at 4:00 PM ET on Saturday, April 19.