HARTFORD ATHLETIC VS. RHODE ISLAND FC
WHEN: Wednesday, April 1st, 7:00 PM
WHERE: Centreville Bank Stadium, Pawtucket, RI
HOW TO WATCH: Paramount+
RIVALRY RENEWED
These two clubs meet each other three times this season. This particular matchup, the first between the two teams this season, will decide which club will be advancing further into the U.S. Open Cup tournament while eliminating the other. In five previous matchups, the two squads have tied each other three times and handed each other identical 3-0 losses in the others. Hartford most recently defeated Rhode Island FC by a 3-0 score in USL Championship play last season, meaning their inner-region rival, who comes into the match winless in their last two, will be defending home turf with something to prove this go-around.
SCORING PLENTY
Hartford has been shut out just once this season and has scored two or more goals in each of their other four tilts. Their seven goals in four USL Championship matches tie them for second overall in the league while their nine goals through five games this season marks the most to start a season for Athletic since 2020. On the other side, Rhode Island FC has scored eight times through four games in 2026 and posted a 4-0 win over CD Faialense in the first round of the U.S. Open Cup. Hartford will need to wear their best boots in the Ocean State if they want to advance to the next round of the U.S. Cup Open.
CUP CRAZINESS
The U.S. Open Cup is one of the most rigorous and demanding tournaments in the sport. 100 teams go for a select few monetary prizes, potentially pushing their team’s brand and their status as a professional soccer club to the next level along the way. In the first round of the U.S. Open Cup, Athletic shutout FC Motown 2-0 with Enzo Carvalho notching a three-save clean sheet and TJ Presthus and Andrés Hernández finding the back of the net. If Hartford comes away with a victory on Wednesday night, it’ll be their first appearance in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup in club history.
BEFORE THE HUDDLE
“This team has already shown great resilience in the face of a wave of early season injuries and we’re undefeated in league play. Our whole roster has contributed to results and we intend for them to continue to do so,” said Athletic General Manager and Head Coach Brendan Burke. “We have great respect for Rhode Island and what they have accomplished in such a short time as a club. We are up for what will surely be a very fast paced game.”
“Games like this present huge opportunities for guys and are always fun to be a part of for everyone involved,” added Burke. “We want to win every game we play but we are trusting our whole roster to carry us through six away games in our first seven total of the season along with three quick turns between away games on top of that.”
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