SMITHFIELD — It was a different day, even a different start time, and yet, the same result for Rhode Island FC.
The Ocean State club missed its early scoring opportunities, played stout defense at home, and drew for the fifth time in six tries in front of 4,914 at Beirne Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
RIFC’s best chance came at the 23-minute mark as Clay Holstad forced a Louisville City FC turnover in Rhode Island’s attacking third. Holstad ran a through-ball to Albert Dikwa, who dished to Noah Fuson, on the left wing, for an open look and the forward nailed the left post. The rebound was cleared for a corner, but Rhode Island couldn’t capitalize.
Rhode Island has seven ties this year after the 0-0 finish to remain in 11th in the Eastern Conference. It was the fourth shutout this spring for the club and third at home. Louisville, the USL’s highest-scoring club, was also held scoreless for the first time this season.
“Felt like you did enough to win the game, but again its’s a tough team, really good team in the league,” RIFC coach Khano Smith said. “But when we create opportunities in the game like that against a good team, and you don’t take it, you get what you deserve.”
Rhode Island owned possession with a 52.4% mark and goalie Koke Vegas made three saves to keep Louisville off the board. Rhode Island’s fourth clean sheet is tied for fourth most in the league and their goals conceded, 16 on the year, has them in the middle-of-the pack.
“The atmosphere helps, it just drives them on and pushes them on,” Smith said of the defense at home. “They get a little bit more energy when they’re at home with their support.”
“They press a little harder, win the ball higher up the field more so it makes it really difficult for the opposition to even get closer to our goal. I think the field is a little bit tighter, the last few [opposing] fields … are way more spaced. [The opposing fields] are much longer and wider, so that comes into play with just more space for the opponents to break us down.”
Rhode Island FC president Brett Luy departs after just 18 months with the club
The offense, or lack thereof, remains RIFC’s biggest woe. Rhode Island has scored just 10 goals on the year to rank 21 out of 24 in the league. The attacking third has struggled to gain continuity and in the 67th minute Jack Panayotou slipped a through ball for a racing Fuson, but the helper was long. Fuson, who was open for a shot, never got a touch and the ball went through the end line.
In the 59th minute, JJ Williams’ header off Collin Smith’s cross was blocked and Panayotou’s left-footed rebound attempt missed top right. Neither were entitled to the score, but they’re chances that eventually need to find the back of the net.
“We have to be a little bit better with the ball,” Vegas said. “I think we talked about it a few weeks ago, being sharper in the final third, probably something that we can do better.”
Said Smith: “We’ve done enough, we’ve created enough to score goals. [Against] Sacramento we created enough chances to win the game, but they’re not trying to miss them. They’re close.”
On Thursday the club announced that Brett Luy, the club’s president, has taken a new role as special adviser with the team’s parent company, Fortuitous Partners, and will not be involved in the day-to-day activities.
Smith declined to comment on how Luy’s departure has affected the team.
jrousseau@providencejournal.com
On X: @ByJacobRousseau
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