Rhode Island

Rhode Island FC battles to another scoreless draw at home

Published

3 weeks ago

May 26, 2024

Rhode Island FC battles to another scoreless draw at home

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 67^th 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 59^th 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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Rhode Island

Providence-Newport Ferry to start summer service | ABC6

Published

53 mins ago

June 17, 2024

Press Room

Providence-Newport Ferry to start summer service | ABC6

Seastreak Newport-Providence. (WLNE file image)

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Providence-Newport Ferry will officially start its summer service on Friday.

The ferry will operate seasonally from June 21 to October 14, from 9:30 a.m. to 9:10 p.m.

The ferry will also provide services to Bristol.

Tickets for a one way trip start at $12, while a round trip ticket is priced at $24 from departure at the Seastreak Ferry Terminal.

To learn more about tickets, you can visit their website here.

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Rhode Island

Newport County YMCA closed after incident in steam room

Published

8 hours ago

June 17, 2024

Press Room

Newport County YMCA closed after incident in steam room

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (WPRI) — The Newport County YMCA is closed following an incident in the steam room in the women’s locker room that happened around 9 a.m. Saturday.

Police said the building was evacuated after an initial report of a possible explosion, but was later determined to be a malfunction with the steam system in one of the saunas.

“When the sauna room door was opened, an excessive amount of steam triggered the sprinkler system in that area of the building,” said Det. Lt. Timothy Beck in a news release.

Police said a 58-year-old Barrington woman suffered a minor, non-life-threatening injury.

According to a post on social media from the Newport County YMCA, the building did have water damage to some areas of the building.

Indoor activities at the YMCA will be closed until further notice. An update on the incident is expected at some point today.

The YMCA also thanked emergency responders that were called to the scene.

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‘Tank’ Davis knocks out Martin in the 8th round to keep WBA lightweight title

Published

15 hours ago

June 16, 2024

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‘Tank’ Davis knocks out Martin in the 8th round to keep WBA lightweight title

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Gervonta “Tank” Davis made a triumphant return to the ring after more than a year away, once again showing why he is one of the top pound-for-pound boxers.

Armed with a punching power not typically associated with a lightweight, Davis made full use if his skills Saturday night in dominating Frank Martin and knocking him out at 1:29 of the eighth round to retain the WBA championship.

“I knew the way he fell he wasn’t getting back up,” Davis said.

Davis delivered a right and two lefts to Martin’s face to send the Indianapolis resident to the canvass for his first career loss after he won his first 18 fights. Tank again proved to be one of boxing’s most ferocious punchers, improving to 30-0 — all but two by knockout.

He predicted before the fight an eight-round knockout.

“I was just throwing that out there. Next fight in the first round,” Davis said, smiling.

This fight showed why Davis, a Baltimore native and resident, was a substantial favorite at 7-1, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

That bout between 29-year-olds headlined the 100th championship fight night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, which has been supplanted by T-Mobile Arena as Las Vegas’ prime spot for combat sports. To mark the occasion, four title fights took place, including the interim WBC light heavyweight championship that David Benavidez won by unanimous decision over Oleksandr Gvozdyk.

But there was no doubt who the main attractions were on this night, and that was clear at Wednesday’s press conference. Davis and Martin bantered back and forth during the Wednesday news conference. Then when the two boxers did the traditional poses afterward, Davis pretended to take a swing at Martin. Martin flinched and Davis left the podium laughing.

This was Davis’ first fight since April 22, 2023, when he delivered a devastating left uppercut that handed Ryan Garcia a seventh-round knockout at T-Mobile Arena. Garcia, wearing a shirt that read “Tank’s No. 1 Fan,” congratulated and hugged the champion after the victory over Martin.

The 421-day layoff showed early as Martin won two of the first three rounds, including a right that caught Davis in the face.

That seemed to wake up Davis, who then took over the fight by repeatedly sending Martin into ropes and corners. Davis appeared ready to finish off Martin with several hard blows in the sixth round, bringing the pro-Tank crowd of 13,239 to its feet.

“I had to get in the right range,” Davis said. “He has a decent jab. I had to break him down as the fight was going on.”

Then in the eighth, Davis ended any doubts by charging after Martin early then knocking him out midway through the round. As Martin was being counted out, Davis bounced on the second rung of the ropes, jumped off, and then went to the top cords and did a backflip and stuck the landing.

“I got caught with a shot that I didn’t see,” Martin said. “It came from underneath.”

Benavidez (29-0) made a successful debut in his move up from super middleweight. The Las Vegas resident defeated Gvozdyk (20-2), a Ukraine native who trains in Oxnard, California, by scores of 116-112, 117-111 and 119-109.

Alberto Puello (23-0) of the Dominican Republic won the WBC interim super lightweight championship with a split decision over Gary Russell (17-1) of Capitol Heights, Maryland. Two judges gave Puello the victory with scores of 115-112 and 114-113 and another had it for Russell 118-109.

Dominican middleweight champion Carlos Adames (24-1) retained his WBC belt with a unanimous decision over Terrell Gausha (24-4-1) of Encino, California. Two judges scored the fight 118-110 and the other had it 119-109.

Heisman Trophy winner and Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels was among those in attendance. Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard, Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan and coach Antonio Pierce and owner Mark Davis of the Las Vegas Raiders also were in the crowd.

___

AP sports: https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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