Ocean State club takes huge leap towards playoffs with important conference victory
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (Sept. 30, 2026) – Rhode Island FC earned an important victory against Indy Eleven on Wednesday, battling to a 1-0 win at Centreville Bank Stadium. A 22nd minute tap-in goal from Stas Korzeniowski put the Ocean State club ahead early, setting up goalkeeper Jacob Castro to dazzle in his home debut. Castro’s five-save clean sheet secured three crucial points in the Eastern Conference standings, lifting RIFC above Indy and into seventh place with five games remaining.
Rhode Island FC (10W-10L-5T) opened the contest hot, pressuring Indy Eleven (9W-11L-6T) in the penalty box in the opening minutes. Leo Afonso and Yutaro Tsukada both pounced on dangerous chances following consecutive crosses in the 3rd and 4th minutes, but the homeside could not find the frame.
Six minutes later, Indy took advantage of a counter-attacking opportunity when Loic Mesanvi sprung onto the end of a long ball. His first-touch shot sailed wide of the RIFC net, but opened up the floodgates for Indy on the attack. Indy peppered Castro with a pair of shots, forcing a diving stop in the 13th minute and a punched clearance off a corner in the 14th minute to open up the goalkeeper’s first start in Amber and Blue.
A long run from forward Osman Foyo proved just the catalyst for the Ocean State Club in the 22nd minute. Foyo carried the ball to the goal line, working with speed from a perfect through ball down the right wing. Foyo fed Korzeniowski with a tight feed in the box, and Korzeniowski fought through contact and buried the shot into the bottom-right to give the homeside a 1-0 advantage.
Indy’s offensive pressure continued despite the goal, setting up a back-and-forth attacking battle through the remainder of the opening half. In the 39th minute, a set piece led to another dangerous Indy chance as a header at the edge of the box fell to the foot of Malik Henry-Scott in the six-yard box. Castro made himself big, however, and came up with a spectacular kick-save to stop Indy in its tracks. Foyo took advantage of the save and countered quickly on the very next play, nearly finding the back of the net on the other end when he bulleted a line drive just wide of the frame.
After the attacking-heavy opening half, physicality defined the final 45 between RIFC and Indy as the visiting side battled to balance the score. In the 68th minute, Castro palmed away a ricochet off an Indy corner, making another critical stop to hold the visitors off. From that crucial stop, it was a scramble to the finish between the seventh and eighth place Eastern Conference clubs.
As Indy continued to push, RIFC remained tight on the defensive end. The Ocean State club maintained composure, finishing the contest with 11 clearances. One final punch by Castro in stoppage time sent the ball out of danger and earned the Ocean State club a crucial three points.
Up next, Rhode Island FC will head to Maimonides Park on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. to take on Brooklyn FC for the third time this season. The Ocean State Club returns to Centreville Bank Stadium for its next home contest against Loudoun United FC Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets to the Wicked Good Weeknight, featuring $4 beers and $1 kids drinks, are available now at rhodeislandfc.com/tickets.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
RI – Stas Korzeniowski (Osman Foyo), 23rd minute: Korzeniowski buries Foyo’s cross with a low finish in the box. RI 1, IND 0
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- Goalkeeper Jacob Castro made his first career start for Rhode Island FC after making his debut for the club at Charleston Battery on Sept. 26.
- Castro matched RIFC’s season-high five saves, keeping his first career clean sheet for the club and RIFC’s 11th of the season across all competitions.
- Forward Stas Korzeniowski scored his third career RIFC goal in his sixth appearance for the club.
- Forward Osman Foyo tallied his first career assist for RIFC.
- Forward Nikolai Pierre made his professional debut, coming on as a second-half substitute in the first minute of stoppage time.
- The win lifted Rhode Island FC above Indy Eleven and into seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings with five games remaining in the regular season.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Jacob Castro
Game stats and information available here.
For Rhode Island FC news and updates, visit rhodeislandfc.com, subscribe to RIFC’s monthly newsletter, follow the club on Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok, X and LinkedIn, and download the official team app.
