Rhode Island FC will hit the road on Saturday as it travels to Al Lang Stadium to take on the league-leading Tampa Bay Rowdies at 7:30 pm. RIFC is looking to keep its hot streak going after its 2-0 win over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC last time out. After tying 1-1 in its first matchup vs. Tampa Bay on May 9, RIFC will look for its fourth win all time over the South Florida club. The Ocean State Club will look to stack on another win and take the season series over The Rowdies, bringing itself within reach of a top-four home playoff spot while holding Tampa Bay from adding to its lead atop the table. Ahead of an Eastern Conference clash, here is everything you need to know.
AT A GLANCE
Date | Saturday, August 15
Kickoff | 7:30 p.m. ET
Location | Al Lang Stadium – St. Petersburg, Fla.
Broadcast | NESN+, ESPN Select
Radio | 790 The Score (WPRV 790 AM)
Social | @rhodeislandfc (X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok)
Game Hashtag | #RIatTBR
Last Meeting | May 9, 2026: TBR 1-1 RI – Pawtucket, R.I.
TAMPA BAY ROWDIES
Roster
GOALKEEPERS (4): 1-Jahmali Waite, 24-Austin Pack, 35-Caleb Klepacz, 41-Joshua Kachurak
DEFENDERS (13): 2-Conner Antley, 3-Brian Schaefer, 5-Yanis Leerman, 19-Isaiah LeFlore, 20-Charlie Ostrem, 21-Ethan Bartlow, 26-Dion Acoff, 27-Laurence Wyke, 30-Sebastian Cruz, 33-Gennaro Nigro, 36-Alex Rodriguez, 37-Jesse Tita, 55-Leland Archer
MIDFIELDERS (5): 4-Lewis Hilton, 8-Pedro Dolabella, 13-Louis Perez, 16-Marco Micaletto, 23-Max Schneider
FORWARDS (5): 7-Evan Conway, 9-MD Myers, 10-Russell Cicerone, 11-Gino Vivi, 14-Karsen Henderlong
Top of the Table
The Tampa Bay Rowdies sit at the top of the Eastern Conference standings with an overall record of 12W-2L-5T. Over Tampa Bay’s last five regular season games, it is 3W-1L-1T, with only its second loss of the season coming on July 4 against Lexington SC, where it conceded a season-high four goals. Its only other loss in the regular season was a 1-0 defeat to Hartford Athletic on June 13. Since the loss on July 4, it has gotten back to winning ways and is unbeaten in its last four games (3W-0L-1T). In the 2026 regular season, Tampa Bay has out-scored its opponents 36-19, and has shutout its opponents in nine out of its twelve wins. On top of its dominant defensive performances, the Tampa Bay attack has scored in all but one game this season. While the rest of the Eastern Conference is fighting for table position, the Rowdies have a comfortable eight-point lead over the second-place Charleston Battery.
Last Time Out
Tampa Bay defeated the Western Conference-leading Orange County SC in a dominant 3-0 win during its last outing on August 8. MD Meyers opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 24th minute, before assisting Marco Micaletto to double the lead in the second half. Late in the game, substitutes Evan Conway and Karsen Henderlong connected on a deadly sequence for the third goal of the night and Henderlong’s first of the year, securing a massive 3-0 win vs. the Western Conference leaders. Before returning home to face RIFC, the Rowdies will also be playing a Prinx Tires USL Cup game on Wednesday, Aug. 12 against Louisville City FC at 7:00 p.m., where it will look to advance in the competition’s knockout stage after going undefeated with four-straight wins in the group stage.
Stat Leaders
MD Myers and Marco Micaletto have both been consistent scorers for the Rowdies. Myers has scored four goals in Tampa Bay’s last three games, including a brace in a thrilling come-from-behind 5-4 win vs. Louisville City FC. Myers leads the team with nine goals in 18 regular-season appearances and ranks sixth in the league, just above RIFC’s JJ Williams, who scored his eighth goal of the season on Saturday. Micaletto, who has five goals on the season, has scored in three-straight games. Rowdies defender Charlie Ostrem leads the USL Championship with seven assists.
RHODE ISLAND FC
Roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): 1-Koke Vegas, 13-Will Meyer, 29-Jacob Castro
DEFENDERS (9): 2-Dani Rovira, 3-Aldair Sanchez, 4-Hugo Bacharach, 5-Grant Stoneman, 15-Frank Nodarse, 22-Nick Scardina, 24-Karifa Yao, 25-CJ Williams, 32-Hamady Diop
MIDFIELDERS (7): 7-Dwayne Atkinson, 10-Agustín “Pity” Rodríguez, 12-Clay Holstad*, 17-Jojea Kwizera, 19-Kevin Vang, 21-Zachary Herivaux, 77-Amos Shapiro-Thompson
FORWARDS (6): 8-Leo Afonso, 9-JJ Williams, 11-Noah Fuson, 14-Yutaro Tsukada, 18-Osman Foyo, 20-Jamin Gogo Peters
*On loan for 2026 season
Defensive Consistency
Over RIFC’s last four regular season games, Koke Vegas has recorded three clean sheets. The Spaniard is tied for fifth in the league with five shutouts in the regular season, keeping seven in total across all competitions in 2026. Frank Nodarse also earned a spot on the Team of the Week for Week 23 for his defensive performance. Nodarse has been a cornerstone of the Ocean State club’s defense, making six-straight starts and earning two selections to the Team of the Week in the last month, bringing his season total to four. Nodarse recorded a team-high three interceptions and won nine duels in the win vs. Colorado Springs, and also led the team with 31 completed passes and 61 total touches. Vegas and his back line have played a critical role in Rhode Island FC’s 3W-2L-0T record over the last five games.
For the Recordbooks
Rhode Island FC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies have faced off once this season, tying 1-1 on May 9. RIFC earned a crucial come-from-behind point in this matchup after going down in the first half and trailing 1-0 for a majority of the game. In the 29th minute, Pedro Dolabella found the back of the net to give the visitors the lead. With just five minutes to play, JJ Williams provided late heroics for the hosts, rising up at the back post to bury an equalizing header. Across all competitions, RIFC and Tampa Bay have faced each other five times. RIFC holds a 3W-1L-1T advantage over the Rowdies and have outscored them 13-6. In its last visit to Al Lang Stadium, RIFC dominated Tampa Bay in a 3-0 win on May 17, 2025.
Yutaro’s Breakout
After RIFC acquired forward Yutaro Tsukada on loan from Major League Soccer club Orlando City SC on July 30, the Japanese winger made his first start for Rhode Island FC in its 2-0 win against Colorado Springs Switchbacks SC. Tsukada scored his first goal for Rhode Island FC in the 69th minute, becoming the second RIFC player in club history to score in his regular-season debut at Centreville Bank Stadium, and the first to record a game-winning goal. Prior to Tsukada’s time with RIFC, he scored seven goals and added eight assists in 27 appearances between Orlando City SC and its reserve side, Orlando City B.
