Rhode Island FC showed a lot of heart in Saturday’s match against Oakland Roots SC, a team that seemed determined to push the boundaries of the referee, the crowd, and their opponents beyond all reasonable limits.

From the earliest moments, they grabbed, shoved, kicked, and harassed Rhode Island’s players. Perhaps RIFC’s own reputation for foul play gave the referee pause in handling the situation with less hesitancy, but Oakland was content to exploit that and the Tide responded with considerably more restraint than perhaps they would have earlier this season.

Ultimately — although Rhode Island came away with a slightly disappointing draw — they continued to demonstrate the incredible growth that they have shown over the latter half of this season and should be proud of the restraint and effort they displayed against Oakland.

The first half started with a cross that nearly found RIFC winger Noah Fuson in only the 3rd minute, skipping just behind his heels; only a scant few yards from Oakland’s goal. Oakland responded with a near miss only seconds later. The 13th minute saw Fuson attempt to make up for his earlier blunder with a curled shot from the center of the box that only a sharp dive from Oakland’s Paul Angelo Blanchette could stop from scoring. 

Blanchette became the center of much controversy and even scorn when he brought down RIFC striker Albert “Chico” Dikwa in the box. Chico had the ball and was one-on-one with the Oakland goalkeeper when it appeared that Blanchette tripped Chico as Dikwa attempted to round him. The referee let the match play on and gave neither a penalty nor a card.

Just a few moments later, Blanchette committed another similar act, tripping another Rhode Island FC player as they trotted back towards center-pitch for a goal kick. Although the referee gave him what I’m quite sure was a very stern talking to, Blanchette’s behavior did not improve.

In the 29th minute, RIFC winger Mark Doyle had a shot deflected that screamed just inches wide of the right post and out for a corner. That corner was wasted— Rhode Island had fourteen such corners on the night – and Oakland responded with a corner of their own in the 33rd. Oakland winger Baboucarr Njie took the corner and lashed it in, where it found the head of defender Neveal Hackshaw, who buried it past RIFC goalkeeper Koke Vegas and put the visitors up 1-0. It all happened so fast that there wasn’t much Vegas could do and Rhode Island allowed its 33rd goal on the season.

Rhode Island nearly responded just a few moments later with a header from defender Grant Stoneman that went just over the bar and RIFC winger Jojea Kwizera took a shot from inside the box that also skimmed the crossbar in first-half stoppage-time.

As a result, the teams went into the half with Oakland leading the Tide 1-0.

Rhode Island FC came out of the locker room hungry and ready to play. In the 47th minute wingback Stephen Turnbull burst through and free on a beautiful counterattack. The resulting shot, however, was ultimately easily saved by Blanchette. Only a few moments later Rhode Island FC took its 10th corner of the match, which led to further controversy from Blanchette.

It’s rare that I feel I have a journalistic duty to impugn the character of a player, and not only their effort or even their ability but Oakland goalkeeper Paul Angelo Blanchette was so poorly behaved all night that eventually the entire stadium burst into boos whenever he touched the ball. In this instance, Blanchette started not just one, but two scuffles while medical trainers treated injured players nearby.

While waiting for RIFC’s eleventh corner kick. Both scuffles resulted in a lot of shoving, and while Blanchette seemed to feel plenty comfortable giving punishment, the moment he was shoved in return he flopped to the ground in an almost comical display, like something out of an old cartoon. He performed these egregious flops twice in a row.

Rhode Island FC 3 – Hartford Athletic 0: 3 RIFC Thoughts

Two Rhode Island players, Dikwa and defender Frank Nodarse received yellow cards for those shoves. I, for one, hope the apparently-easily-bruised Blanchette wasn’t too badly harmed by what must have been quite powerful shoves. As Dikwa said in the press conference after the game, ”if you want to start a fight, you need to be a big boy.”

In the 72nd minute, Oakland Roots SC’s poor behavior finally caught up to them, as Oakland captain, defender, and goalscorer Hackshaw pulled down RIFC striker JJ Williams by the neck just outside of the Oakland box, and earned a red card for his efforts. Still up 1-0 — and already facing relentless pressure from a Rhode Island side that would ultimately tally 22 total shots on the night — Oakland suddenly found themselves in the unenviable position of having to hunker down with only 10 men. Given Blanchette’s play throughout the match, they were quite lucky not to be down to 9 men.

RIFC couldn’t make anything happen with the resulting free kick and Blanchette made a couple more saves against Rhode Island set pieces –holding the ball for agonizing seconds that the crowd counted off amid a chorus of boos every single time – but Oakland could no longer weather the storm forever.

Finally in the 87th minute, RIFC midfielder and super-sub Joe Brito – who scored late last week against Hartford Athletic assisted by Dikwa – found Dikwa with a beautiful long ball which the striker headed past Blanchette’s right to tie the game up at 1-1. The goal was the 50th USL Championship goal of Chico’s career and his 10th goal involvement on the season (7 goals and 3 assists), as well as his first goal since July 13.

After that, RIFC kept the pressure on, but despite some great headers and more controversy involving Blanchette – who may have caught a headed shot from Doyle after the ball passed over the line – Rhode Island was unable to secure the win and three points.

The draw was Rhode Island’s twelfth of the season and came despite their dominance of the stats. They outshot Oakland 22-7, with six shots on target to Oakland’s one. Rhode Island also bested Oakland in corners taken (14-4) and possession (61% to Oakland’s 39%).

The red card gained by Oakland’s Hackshaw was also the first ever shown to an opponent of RIFC. With ten matches left in Rhode Island’s USL Championship season, only three more draws will see them take the USL record for draws in a season. The draw also saw them fall back to 8th place in the USL Championship’s Eastern Conference, as they fight for their first-ever playoff berth.

Rhode Island FC are back in action next Saturday night, August 24, as they play away to Loudoun United FC, just outside of our nation’s capital, at 7:30 pm ET. Loudoun United are presently tied with Rhode Island FC on points, with 33 each, although Loudoun have a game in hand.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Today is National Nonprofit Day, and with it comes an opportunity to help support local organizations.

The Ocean State is home to hundreds of nonprofits, and groups like Big Brothers Big Sisters Rhode Island help change the trajectory of young kids’ lives in the state.

Rhode Island General Treasurer James Diossa highlighted National Nonprofit Day on Facebook.

To find out if your favorite organization has funds waiting to be claimed, or if you have unclaimed property, you can use this link here.

Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the US, but its vegan food options are booming like never before. If you’re visiting, or you just want to get to know the plant-based scene a little better, check out the best places to eat below.

Are there any vegan restaurants in Rhode Island?

While New York and California tend to attract the most plant-based buzz, the Ocean State has become a recent hotspot for vegans on the East Coast. From plant-based ice cream shops to an entire vegan food hall marketplace, there’s nothing quite like Rhode Island’s plant-based community.

Vegan Food Near Me: What to Eat in Honolulu

The best places for vegan food in Rhode Island

Most of the restaurants below are entirely vegan, and one thing is for certain: you are not going to go hungry.

Basil & Bunny

1 Basil & Bunny

Bristol, RI

Last year, due to popular demand, Basil & Bunny upgraded from a food truck to its very own brick-and-mortar restaurant. But just like its former home on wheels, the new location makes vegan fast food accessible to anyone looking for a quick and satisfying bite. Best sellers include the Bunny Mak and the Buff Bunny—both modeled after famous fast-food menu items.
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Sprout and Lentil

2 Sprout and Lentil

Middleton, RI

Sprout and Lentil is an award-winning vegan restaurant founded by chef, entrepreneur, and animal-rights activist Carmen Foy. After 12 years of working as a private chef and working in restaurants around the world, Foy began to plant her roots by selling vegan grab-and-go dishes at a local farmers’ market. Soon after, Sprout and Lentil launched its mainstay location to spread the word about sustainable plant-based eating. Now, it’s become a vegan destination, topping “Best Of” burger lists while establishing a hearty menu of other specialties such as pizza and cauliflower steaks.
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Root on Broadway

3 Root on Broadway

Newport, RI

For a smoothie bowl that’s both delicious and picture-perfect, stop by Root on Broadway. This vegan eatery is run by power couple Kate Moran and Paul Webber who came together over a shared passion for serving plant-based meals. Root on Broadway has been rated by Yelp as one of the top 100 vegan restaurants in the US, with an extensive drink and food menu to back it. Fan favorites include the coconut bacon BLT, the cold-brew awakening smoothie, and of course, the signature açaí and grain bowls.
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Like No Udder

4 Like No Udder

Providence, RI

Like No Udder is truly a Rhode Island gem. This plant-based business started as the world’s first vegan soft-serve ice cream truck and eventually opened a brick-and-mortar—now at a new location. Creativity is key, with options for customers to create their very own soft serve “Unicorns” using a variety of flavors and toppings. But this company does more than just scoops and swirls. Bred from the pandemic, the shop started selling savory knishes which were an instant hit.
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PiANTA

5 Pianta

Providence, RI

No matter how old you are, it’s impossible to age out of a proper, gooey grilled cheese. Pianta specializes in this timeless classic and brings a modern twist to it to satisfy today’s vegan audience. Owned by Executive Chef Michelle Politano, Pianta’s plant-based cuisine has stolen the hearts and stomachs of many Rhode Island foodies. The menu changes frequently, but expect to find options like grilled eggs and cheese, as well as waffles and frittatas, on the popular brunch menu. Pianta also has its very own in-house Executive Pastry Chef, Danielle Rotella, best known for her delectable carrot cake and her traditional Italian panna cotta with grilled stone fruit. If you’re anywhere near Providence, RI (which is basically anywhere in the state), you have to check this place out. 
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Apothica Cafe

6 Apothica Café

Cumberland, RI

Apothica Café is an apothecary-inspired vegan coffee shop that provides healthy alternatives to everyone’s favorite café drinks. This plant-based joint specializes in espresso and tea-based lattes made from scratch using all-natural ingredients. Best sellers include the Dragonfruit Matcha and herb-infused Moon Milks. To satisfy your hunger, try out the mouthwatering breakfast menu which includes dishes like vegan burritos and bruschettas. Finish your stay with a delicate vegan macaron or an oh-so-satisfying ice cream cookie sandwich.
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Celebrated

7 Celebrated

Warwick, RI

Celebrated creates elevated plant-based desserts fit for any occasion. This locally-owned bakery carries everything from succulent-inspired cupcakes to DIY cookie decorating kits. The bakery also specializes in custom orders, including vegan wedding cakes. For non-locals who are craving a slice of heaven, Celebrated offers nationwide shipping for popular food items like its seasonally inspired French macaroons.
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Plant City

8 Plant City

Plant City offers vegans and non-vegans alike a little bit of everything. The community space is an all-vegan food hall, which includes a vegan food marketplace along with four plant-based restaurants, three bars, and a vegan bakery. One could easily spend an entire day of eating, drinking, shopping, and socializing here. 
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Wildflour Bakery

9 Wildflour Bakery

Pawtucket, RI

Wildflour Bakery serves up delicious vegan and kosher treats that are sure to delight. The pastry shop offers fan-favorite vegan cheesecake and its seasonal PRIDE month-inspired whoopie pies. This dessert shop also offers fresh protein-packed smoothies compliments of Fully Rooted. Guests are welcome to spend the day working remotely at the bakery while enjoying all of the plant-based menu items Wildflour has to offer.
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Veggie Fun

10 Veggie Fun 

Providence, RI

Head to downtown Providence for an expansive menu of vegan Pan-Asian dishes. Veggie Fun’s plant-based, kosher, and Asian-inspired cuisine spans everything from rich dishes like a Malaysian curry stew to the kitchen’s take on the classic General Tso’s chicken. If you’re looking to satisfy your hunger and not break the bank, Veggie Fun is it. 
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Garden Grille

11 Garden Grille

Pawtucket, RI

Garden Grille is a vegetarian restaurant with a surplus of vegan options. The fresh tofu BLT, spicy Korean tacos, and decadent Potato Pizza are just three of the many vegan menu items this concept has to offer. This long-standing pro-plant restaurant has been a Rhode Island favorite since 1996 and continues to be a popular spot for plant-based eaters across the state.
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