May 29, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rhode Island FC News Release
After holding the USL Championship’s best attacking force, Louisville City FC, scoreless for the first time all season at Beirne Stadium, Rhode Island FC returns to action on Saturday as it gears up for its inaugural Rhode Trip to regional rivals Hartford Athletic for the first-ever meeting between the two clubs at Trinity Health Stadium. With both teams separated by just two points in the Eastern Conference standings, Saturday’s match will be a pivotal one as both squads look to build momentum heading into the heart of the 2024 season. Ahead of Saturday’s historic matchup, here’s everything you need to know about the match.
AT A GLANCE
Date | Saturday, June 1
Kickoff | 7 PM ET
Location | Trinity Health Stadium, Hartford, CT
Broadcast | NESN+, ESPN+
Social | @rhodeislandfc (X, Instagram, Facebook)
Match Hashtag | #RIvHFD
HARTFORD ATHLETIC
Roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): 1-Greg Monroe, 40-Renan Ribeiro, 44-Justin DiCarlo
DEFENDERS (7): 3-Joey Akpunonu, 4-Jordan Scarlett, 5-Triston Hodge, 15-Joe Farrell, 19-Rece Buckmaster, 23-Thomas Vancaeyezeele, 27-Pele Ousmanou
MIDFIELDERS (8): 6-Beverly Makangila, 8-Jay Chapman, 10-Danny Barrera, 12-Anderson Asiedu, 18-Joe Schmidt, 29-Emmanuel Samadia, 43-Ian Shaul, 94-Marlon Hairston
FORWARDS (7): 7-Marcus Epps, 9-Romario Williams, 11-Michee Ngalina, 17-Kyle Edwards, 31-Deshane Beckford, 33-Mamadou Dieng, 77-Enoch Mushagalusa
Snapping the Streak at Home
After winning three of its first four matches, Hartford Athletic (6W-4L-0D) dropped five straight, including a stretch of three matches without a single goal before finally snapping the losing streak last weekend with a 2-1 win over Monterey Bay F.C. During the five-match skid, the Connecticut club was outscored 16-2, including a 6-0 loss at the hands of Louisville City FC. Putting together a multi-goal performance for the first time since early April against Monterey Bay, Thomas Vanccaeyezeele’s first career two-assist match and subsequent Team of the Week selection helped power Hartford to a come-from-behind victory. Michee Ngalina’s second goal in as many matches coupled with Deshane Beckford’s close-range strike in the second half erased an early one-goal deficit. Hartford won its third match in front of its home fans at Trinity Health Stadium, improving the club’s home record this season to 3W-2L-0D and finally bringing its losing streak to an end.
Ngalina Off the Mark
After finding the back of the net…