Ocean State returns home on quick turnaround to host Indy Eleven on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 7:30 p.m.
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (Sept. 26, 2026) – Rhode Island FC returned home from Charleston empty-handed on Saturday, falling 2-0 at Patriots Point Soccer Stadium. The Ocean State club resiliently battled to a scoreless balance through 75 minutes, but a late red card and a pair of second-half Charleston goals proved too much to overcome for the visitors.
Although Charleston Battery (14W-8L-4T) controlled the majority of the possession through the first 45 minutes, dangerous chances came few and far between for both sides, who combined for just four first-half shots. Stas Korzeniowski was first to test the frame for Rhode Island FC (9W-10L-5T) in the 16th minute, firing a long-distance effort that was comfortably corralled by Charsleton goalkeeper Luis Zamudio.
The hosts nearly found the opener in the 24th minute, taking both of their first-half shots less than a minute apart and forcing RIFC goalkeeper Koke Vegas into a pair of vital saves. Langston Blackstock started the flurry of chances when he received the ball at the top of the six-yard box, taking a quick touch around his defender before unleashing a powerful shot through traffic. Vegas made himself big at the near post, turning away the effort to keep the game level. Less than a minute later, the Spaniard was called into action once again, diving down to his left to deny Jeremy Kelly’s long-range shot.
The Battery did eventually find the back of the net four minutes later, but the celebrations were short-lived. Camilo Sanchez connected with Jeremy Swan’s free kick and tucked a header inside the near post, but the forward was called offside. The goal showed flashes of Charleston’s league-leading attack, but it could not do enough to establish an advantage as both clubs entered the half scoreless.
The Ocean State club came out swinging in the second half, capitalizing on a miscued clearance in the 46th minute. Amos Shapiro-Thompson got on the end of the turnover at the top of the box and quickly fired a shot towards the top-left corner, but Zamudio produced a fantastic full-stretch save to deny the game’s opening goal.
RIFC once again pressured the Charleston side in the 67th minute when Korzeniowski won the ball in his own half and took off down the right wing. A quick solo effort carried the forward all the way into the box, where his one-on-one effort was denied by a diving Zamudio. Three minutes later, Charleston forced yet another stellar save from Vegas at the other end, who rose at full stretch to paw Kelly’s long-range shot out of the top-right corner.
The Battery continued to push following the spectacular save. Charleston flew right back onto the attack in the 74th minute, working the ball into the RIFC box and winning a penalty kick. Emilio Ycaza stepped up to take the spot kick, and found a sliver of space in the bottom-right corner to beat a diving Vegas and give the homeside a late 1-0 lead.
Following the go-ahead goal, Charleston continued building momentum when Miguel Berry sent a shot just wide of the right post in the 80th minute. Just one minute later, RIFC was reduced to ten men when Vegas collided with Charleston’s Colton Swan, who had broken free and was running through on goal.
On the following free kick, Charleston once again found the back of the net to secure all three points. Despite RIFC debutant Jacob Castro making the initial save to deny Berry’s free kick, Ycaza pounced on the rebound to complete his brace and wrap up a 2-0 win for the hosts.
Up next, Rhode Island FC will return to Centreville Bank Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 7:30 p.m. to face Indy Eleven in a crucial game in the USL Championship playoff race. Tickets to Wednesday’s Wicked Good Weeknight, featuring $4 beers and $1 kids drinks, are available now at rhodeislandfc.com/tickets.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
CHS – Emilio Ycaza (Penalty Kick), 77th minute: Ycaza buries the penalty into the bottom-right corner. CHS 1, RI 0
CHS – Emilio Ycaza, 84th minute: Ycaza pounces on a rebound after Miguel Berry’s free kick was saved. CHS 2, RI 0
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- Defender Frank Nodarse became the second player in RIFC history to reach 100 career appearances for RIFC across all competitions, doing so in just 111 games. Nodarse ranks second in club history in appearances behind forward Noah Fuson, who made his 100th appearance at the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Aug. 15.
- Midfielder Zachary Herivaux made his first start since returning from an 11-game injury absence on Sept. 12.
- Defender Hugo Bacharach returned from a two-game injury absence, coming on as a second-half substitute in the 45th minute.
- Goalkeeper Koke Vegas was issued a straight red card in the second half, and will be unavailable for selection in Rhode Island FC’s next game on Wednesday, Sept. 30 vs. Indy Eleven.
- Goalkeeper Jacob Castro made his Rhode Island FC debut, coming on as a second-half substitute in the 84th minute.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Frank Nodarse
Game stats and information available here.
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