| Club: | Rhode Island FC |
| Season: | 2024 |
| Mgrtitle: | Head coach |
| Manager: | Khano Smith |
| Stadium: | Beirne Stadium, Smithfield, RI |
| League: | USL Championship |
| League Result: | Eastern Conference: 8th place |
| Cup1: | U.S. Open Cup |
| Cup1 Result: | Third Round |
| Highest Attendance: | 5,252 (March 16, August 10) |
| Lowest Attendance: | 3,481 (June 26) |
| Average Attendance: | 4,287 |
| Largest Win: | LOU 2–5 RI (June 22)RI 3–0 ELP (June 26)RI 3–0 HFD (August 10) |
| Largest Loss: | TB 4–1 RI (March 30) |
| Leftarm1: | 16417C |
| Body1: | 16417C |
| Rightarm1: | 16417C |
| Shorts1: | 16417C |
| Socks1: | 16417C |
| Leftarm2: | F9AC00 |
| Body2: | F9AC00 |
| Rightarm2: | F9AC00 |
| Shorts2: | F9AC00 |
| Socks2: | F9AC00 |
| Nextseason: | 2025 |
| American: | yes |
| Updated: | 2:00, August 18, 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, 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 the USL Championship 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]
The team opened May with a goalless draw on the road at North Carolina. Koke Vegas returned from injury absence and recorded his first clean sheet for the team.[23]
On May 10, RIFC announced that New England Revolution midfielder Jack Panayotou was sent on loan to the team.[24] Panayotou played the following day in their game against unbeaten Western Conference first-place Sacramento Republic FC, providing an assist on the team's go-ahead goal.[25] A late Sacramento goal resulted in a 2-2 tie.[26]
On May 23, the Boston Globe reported that team President Brett Luy was leaving the team to take a special advisory position with Fortuitous Partners, the corporation that is developing the team's Tidewater Landing stadium.[27]
The team's final game in May was against second-place Louisville City FC. The goalless draw at home was the first time in the 2024 season that a clean sheet was recorded against the Louisville team.[28]
David Peart, a former cable and sports executive, was named team President on May 31.[29] [30] In subsequent interviews, Peart indicated that his top priority for the team was to help raise RIFC's profile and prepare for the opening of the team's new stadium in 2025.[31]
The team began the month of June with their first rivalry game away against Hartford Athletic. The as-yet-unnamed derby[32] featured the two closest teams geographically in the USL,[33] and drew a sellout crowd in Hartford. RIFC scored on a fourth-minute Mark Doyle goal, and held on for a 1-1 tie in the derby.[34]
Upon return to Rhode Island, the team lost to Detroit City FC 2-0,[35] but then started a streak of unbeaten games. In their away game against Memphis 901 FC they took an early 2-0 lead, and held on for a 2-2 tie after an 87th-minute Koke Vegas red card.[36]
In international play away from the team, Jojea Kwizera played for the Rwandan National Team, and Isaac Angking played for Puerto Rico.[37] Kwizera’s goal in international play was the first by an RIFC team member, and was the only goal in a 1-0 Rwandan victory.[38]
RIFC traveled to Kentucky on June 22, and recorded a 5-2 victory over Louisville City FC, setting a team record for goals, in what was reported as one of the most unexpected USL wins of the year. Louisville had been previously undefeated at home. RIFC’s 5 goals were the most ever given up by Louisville in a home match.[39] [40] Khano Smith was named USL Coach of the Week, and Jojea Kwizera named to the Team of the Week after the victory.[41]
Four days later, RIFC recorded their first home win, in a 3-0 victory over El Paso Locomotive. The victory came in their eighth home game, after 5 ties and two losses. Jackson Lee’s third clean sheet brought them up to 9th place at the end of the month, one space out of the playoffs.[42]
| No. | Pos. | Player | Transferred from | Fee/notes | Date | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK |  Koke Vegas |  San Diego Loyal | Free transfer | November 1, 2023 | ||
| 28 | MF | Conor McGlynn | Hartford Athletic | Free transfer | November 8, 2023 | [43] [44] | |
| 5 | DF | Grant Stoneman | San Diego Loyal | Free transfer | November 8, 2023 | [45] | |
| 77 | MF | Amos Shapiro-Thompson | New York Red Bulls II | Free transfer | November 9, 2023 | [46] [47] | |
| 14 | FW | Mark Doyle | St Patrick's Athletic | Free transfer | November 21, 2023 | [48] [49] | |
| 7 | MF |  Prince Saydee | Hartford Athletic | Free transfer | December 1, 2023 | [50] | |
| 9 | FW | JJ Williams | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Undisclosed fee | December 4, 2023 | ||
| 18 | MF | Joe Brito | Union Omaha | Free transfer | December 7, 2023 | [51] | |
| 16 | DF |  Gabriel Alves | Birmingham Legion | Free transfer | December 11, 2023 | [52] | |
| 23 | MF | Marc Ybarra | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | Free transfer | December 14, 2023 | [53] | |
| 15 | DF |  Frank Nodarse | Rio Grande Valley FC Toros | Free transfer | December 21, 2023 | [54] | |
| 22 | GK |  Jackson Lee | West Virginia Mountaineers | Free transfer | December 22, 2023 | [55] | |
| 3 | DF | Stephen Turnbull | New York City FC | Free transfer | December 29, 2023 | [56] [57] | |
| 17 | MF |  Jojea Kwizera |  CF Montreal | Free transfer | January 4, 2024 | [58] | |
| 12 | DF | Clay Holstad | Columbus Crew 2 | Free transfer | January 12, 2024 | [59] | |
| 11 | FW | Noah Fuson | Columbus Crew 2 | Free transfer | January 16, 2024 | [60] | |
| 10 | FW |  Albert Dikwa | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | Free transfer | January 19, 2024 | ||
| 24 | DF | Karifa Yao | Vancouver Whitecaps | Free transfer | January 23, 2024 | [61] | |
| 21 | MF |  Kofi Twumasi | Atlanta United 2 | Free transfer | January 24, 2024 | [62] | |
| 30 | GK | Nate Silveira | Crown Legacy FC | Free transfer | February 20, 2024 | [63] | |
| 19 | MF | Kevin Vang | Providence Friars | Free transfer | February 20, 2024 | ||
| 2 | DF | Nathan Messer | Providence Friars | Free transfer | March 13, 2024 | ||
| 4 | DF | Collin Smith | New England Revolution II | Free transfer | March 29, 2024 | ||
| 25 | MF |  Kevin Orduy | Rio Grande Valley FC Toros | Free transfer | April 25, 2024 | [64] | |
| 80 | MF | Isaac Angking | Columbus Crew 2 | Free transfer | April 30, 2024 | [65] | |
| 8 | MF | Jack Panayotou | New England Revolution | Loan | May 10, 2024 | [66] | |
| 20 | MF | Zachary Herivaux | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Undisclosed fee | July 3, 2024 | [67] | |
| 6 | DF | Morris Duggan | Minnesota United FC | Loan | August 9, 2024 | [68] |
| No. | Pos. | Player | Transferred to | Fee/notes | Date | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | MF | Jack Panayotou | New England Revolution | Recall of loan | June 4, 2024 | [69] | |
| 7 | MF | Prince Saydee | Charleston Battery | Undisclosed fee | June 27, 2024 | [70] |
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.[72]
See main article: 2024 USL Championship season.
All times in Eastern Time Zone.
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.
| width=20 | Place | width=20 | Pos. | width=20 | No. | width=150 | Name | width=80 | width=80 | width=80 | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FW | 10 | Albert Dikwa | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | |||||||
| 2 | DF | 15 | Frank Nodarse | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |||||||
| 3 | FW | 11 | Noah Fuson | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |||||||
| 3 | DF | 12 | Clay Holstad | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | |||||||
| 5 | DF | 3 | Stephen Turnbull | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |||||||
| 5 | MF | 20 | Zachary Herivaux | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |||||||
| 7 | MF | 28 | Conor McGlynn | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |||||||
| 7 | MF | 17 | Jojea Kwizera | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||||||
| 7 | MF | 80 | Isaac Angking | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||||||
| 7 | FW | 14 | Mark Doyle | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||||||
| 7 | MF | 18 | Joe Brito | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||||||
| 12 | DF | 2 | Nathan Messer | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |||||||
| 12 | DF | 24 | Karifa Yao | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||||
| 12 | FW | 9 | JJ Williams | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||||
| 12 | DF | 5 | Grant Stoneman | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||||
| Own Goals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||
| Total | 37 | 4 | 0 | 41 | ||||||||||
| width=20 | Place | width=20 | Pos. | width=20 | No. | width=150 | Name | width=80 | width=80 | width=80 | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FW | 11 | Noah Fuson | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |||||||
| 2 | FW | 9 | JJ Williams | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |||||||
| 3 | MF | 23 | Marc Ybarra | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |||||||
| 3 | DF | 3 | Stephen Turnbull | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |||||||
| 3 | MF | 17 | Jojea Kwizera | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |||||||
| 3 | FW | 10 | Albert Dikwa | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |||||||
| 3 | MF | 18 | Joe Brito | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |||||||
| 8 | MF | 8 | Jack Panayotou | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||||||
| 9 | GK | 22 | Jackson Lee | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||||
| 9 | DF | 4 | Collin Smith | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |||||||
| 9 | FW | 14 | Mark Doyle | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |||||||
| 9 | FW | 12 | Clay Holstad | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||||
| 9 | MF | 80 | Isaac Angking | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||||
| 9 | DF | 4 | Karifa Yao | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||||
| Total | 31 | 2 | 0 | 33 | ||||||||||
| width=20 | Place | width=20 | Pos. | width=20 | No. | width=150 | Name | width=80 | width=80 | width=80 | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | 22 | Jackson Lee | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |||||||
| 1 | GK | 1 | Koke Vegas | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |||||||
| Total | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||
| No. | Pos. | Name | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Koke Vegas | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||
| 3 | DF | Stephen Turnbull | 3 | 3 | |||||||
| 4 | DF | Collin Smith | 2 | 2 | |||||||
| 5 | DF | Grant Stoneman | 3 | 3 | |||||||
| 7 | MF | Prince Saydee | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| 9 | FW | JJ Williams | 3 | 3 | |||||||
| 10 | FW | Albert Dikwa | 6 | 6 | |||||||
| 11 | FW | Noah Fuson | 5 | 5 | |||||||
| 12 | DF | Clay Holstad | 8 | 8 | |||||||
| 14 | FW | Mark Doyle | 3 | 1 | 4 | ||||||
| 15 | DF | Frank Nodarse | 7 | 7 | |||||||
| 16 | DF | Gabriel Alves | 3 | 3 | |||||||
| 17 | MF | Jojea Kwizera | 5 | 5 | |||||||
| 18 | MF | Joe Brito | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| 20 | MF | Zachary Herivaux | 2 | 2 | |||||||
| 21 | MF | Kofi Twumasi | 3 | 1 | 4 | ||||||
| 22 | GK | Jackson Lee | 2 | 2 | |||||||
| 23 | MF | Marc Ybarra | 4 | 4 | |||||||
| 24 | DF | Karifa Yao | 5 | 1 | 6 | ||||||
| 28 | MF | Conor McGlynn | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |||||
| Total | 69 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 72 | 3 | |||
2024 Season