Rhode Island
Rhode Island FC silences Hartford in home rivalry match
SMITHFIELD — It was the match Rhode Island FC imagined.
A packed Beirne Stadium, against the new rival, with clinical goals and chances in the run of play. Rhode Island curated its best home atmosphere of the season on a cool Saturday night against Hartford Athletic.
And it was the Ocean State club that rode set piece goals from Grant Stoneman and Frank Nodarse and a late icer from Joe Brito for a 3-0 win vs. neighboring Hartford.
Saturday’s sellout, 5,252 in attendance, was just the second of the season — Rhode Island also sold out the inaugural match in March. It had the feel that derby matches bring, albeit just two games into the newly minted rivalry. Albert Dikwa’s missed opening tally just five minutes into the match previewed Rhode Island’s tempo — a pace Hartford couldn’t match.
More: RIFC cofounder and Ocean State native Michael Parkhurst on the club’s turnaround season
“Really good night, special night,” Khano Smith said. “We talked about it as a team, making it a night to remember. And putting a bigger gap between us and [Hartford], so we felt like we achieved it. But so many people put in so much work into this day.”
Said Koke Vegas on the match: “This is special. I cannot say to you why it is different. I can only say that it’s special. The feel is different.”
It was Jojea Kwizera’s left-footed service from beyond the box that Stoneman headed low into the far corner for the game’s first score in the 29th minute. Five minutes into the second half and Noah Fuson sent in a volley from the end line. But it was Nodarse’s brilliance that doubled the advantage.
Nodarse timed his run from the center of the box perfectly as Fuson delivered the service. Nodarse, running in on the possession, rose for the header that was redirected to the far post. It was more clinical than the opening set piece score and came after Hartford had seized momentum near the end of the first half.
Hartford had misses in the 36th minute and in stoppage of the first half after Joseph Farrell’s header off a corner didn’t sneak inside the far post for an equalizer.
“We started the game in control, and then naturally a goal was scored,” Smith said. “They kind of grabbed control of the game and took a little bit of momentum from us. And ended the half with more of the ball. But I think overall, I think we were in control of the game.”
Rhode Island eased to the clean sheet in the second half behind Vegas. Despite the eight-game unbeaten run, Rhode Island only posted one shutout over that time. The offense carried the club through July after starting the year sluggish.
“That’s probably what makes me the most proud,” Smith said of the clean sheet. “I always feel like we’re going to score, but we noticed that, and we talked about it as a group, the last time we had a shutout was against El Paso. Again, if we want to be a really good team, you can’t go seven or eight games without stopping the opposition.”
Rhode Island (7-5-11) is now seventh in the Eastern Conference standings and a point behind Detroit City FC.
“I think everybody today deserved everything that we watched out there — we are very happy,” Vegas said.
The club announced on Friday that it acquired defender Morris Duggan on loan from Minnesota United FC. Duggan, who entered Saturday’s match in the 82nd minute, is just the second loan acquisition for RIFC this season.
The 6-foot-4, German native was drafted in the third round of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft by Minnesota. He made two MLS regular season appearances this season.
“He will add quality in and out of possession to our defensive unit,” Smith said. [Duggan] is a player we are excited to add to our roster.”
jrousseau@providencejournal.com
On X: @ByJacobRousseau
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Rhode Island
Police seek man in attempted abduction of 8-year-old at Johnston park
![Police seek man in attempted abduction of 8-year-old at Johnston park Police seek man in attempted abduction of 8-year-old at Johnston park](https://media.necn.com/2024/08/johnston-park.png?resize=1200%2C675&quality=85&strip=all)
Police are looking for a person of interest in an attempted child abduction that reportedly occurred Friday afternoon at a park in Johnston, Rhode Island.
Johnston police issued a community alert about the incident at Johnston War Memorial Park and asked for the public’s help in the case.
NBC10 Boston affiliate WJAR reports the attempted abduction happened around 3:30 p.m. Friday and involves an 8-year-old child who was attending a summer camp at the park located at 1583 Hartford Avenue.
According to WJAR, police say the child was sitting on a park bench when a man jogging by approached her and removed a small brown bottle and cloth from his bag.
The man reportedly then wet the cloth with the substance in the bottle, and told the camper to “come here.”
The child yelled to camp counselors for help, and the man fled into the men’s restroom. He later left the bathroom shirtless and ran on foot towards Atwood Avenue, police said.
Officials could not find the man in the area. He’s described as being in his late 20s to early 30s, about 6 feet tall, with olive skin and black hair. He was last seen wearing a white or gray tank top, black and reddish shorts, and carrying a large black water bottle and crossbody bag, police said.
Anyone who was in the park at the time of the incident or who has any additional information is asked to contact Detective Michael Andreozzi at 401-757-3140.
Rhode Island
RI mountain biker who died during race remembered for talent; larger than life smile
![RI mountain biker who died during race remembered for talent; larger than life smile RI mountain biker who died during race remembered for talent; larger than life smile](https://turnto10.com/resources/media2/16x9/947/986/0x65/90/0131e40c-c356-4b71-905e-8eaf4bd92565-ScottHuntley.jpg)
JOHNSTON, R.I. (WJAR) — An expert mountain biker from Richmond Rhode Island is being remembered as an adrenaline junkie with a larger than life smile.
His own life came to an end during a race nearly a week ago.
34-year-old Scott Huntley grew up in the Chariho district.
Those who love him, including his girlfriend, Kristina Grande, said he always put passion into everything he loved.
“He competed with dirt bikes in high school, he worked, worked as a garbage man, on a lobster boat and did landscaping,” Grande said.
“I called him DD because he would smile so big his cheeks would turn into two, sometimes three dimples. He loved working with children of all different ages, he just really wanted to give back.”
About four years ago, Grande said Huntley became interested in mountain biking.
“He got into ‘downhill’ about four years ago around COVID he said he used his COVID money to get the bike,” said Grande.
“Downhill is when you take a chairlift or gondola up to the top of the mountain. Some people ride their bike to the top of the mountain. That was him
The sport is dangerous and with it comes a high possibility of injury.
“You don’t tell people to be safe, you tell people to be smart because it’s just not a safe sport whatsoever,” she said.
In the past Grande, who became an exceptional ‘elite’ competitor, had his fair share of injuries in the past with a broken collar bone and wrist.
His friends put together a montage of videos on social media that showed many of his falls, but he always got back up.
On Sunday, that didn’t happen.
The expert mountain biker was competing in a national championship in North Carolina.
He struck a tree during a downhill race at the 2024 Gravity Mountain Bike National Championships at Ride Rock Creek in Zirconia.
“When we found out he fell we were like, ‘Oh, ok. Scott will get back up, he always gets back up,” said Grande.
First responders provided treatment to Huntley.
He was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead.
“This is probably the most painful thing I’ve ever gone through in my life,” said Grande.
“Scott always made me feel loved and supported, and it’s like I still have him here making sure I’m loved and supported even though it’s not by him it’s by everyone who loved him,” she said.
Huntley’s plate number was 401 to represent his home state of Rhode Island.
“His racing community has stepped up in a big way. They’ve put together a fundraiser to raise money to bring him back to Rhode Island as well as doing another memorial service here for people who were close to him here,” said Grande.
“He was really happy, he really died doing what he loved and being loved and feeling like he was a part of something,” Grande said.
Race organizer ‘Eastern States Cup’ said Huntley’s 401 plate number would be retired as a tribute to “one of the best to ever do it.”
A memorial downhill ride wrapped up Saturday afternoon during this weekend’s races in Mount Snow, Vermont.
Rhode Island
Community coming together to support family of 13-year-old Rhode Island boy who died suddenly
![Community coming together to support family of 13-year-old Rhode Island boy who died suddenly Community coming together to support family of 13-year-old Rhode Island boy who died suddenly](https://fallriverreporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Andry-Rodas-Villagran.jpg)
Tragedy has struck as a local middle school student has died.
13-year-old Andry Rodas Villagran died suddenly on Wednesday.
Those who know him say he collapsed while playing Soccer, a sport he loved, however that has not been confirmed by authorities.
Andry was an 8th grader at Dr. Earl F. Calcutt Middle School.
A GoFundMe fundraiser, has been created to help Andry’s family with funeral and memorial expenses.
A vigil was held in his honor on Thursday.
The mayor of Central Falls, Maria Rivera, issued a statement on Andry’s passing.
“It is with deep sadness that we mourn the sudden and untimely loss of a beloved young resident of our city. This young man was a beloved member of our community in Central Falls, an enthusiastic soccer player, and a future leader. Rest in peace, Andry.
Services have yet to be announced.
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