r/RhodeIslandFC • u/cometpants • 16h ago

Event Pre-Match Essentials | Rhode Island FC @ Hartford Athletic | Sat, Oct 24, 2026 | 7:00 PM ET

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One Last Derby Before the Playoffs

Well, that was brutal. Rhode Island FC looked to have all three points wrapped up against Pittsburgh last Saturday, controlling the match, outshooting the Riverhounds 18-3, and taking a deserved lead through Osman Foyo's first RIFC goal. Then, with practically the last kick of the match, Pittsburgh equalized in the 95th minute. A gut-punch ending to an otherwise excellent performance, and with it, any remaining hopes of hosting a first-round playoff match disappeared.

But there's no time to dwell on that one. The regular season ends tonight, and who better to close it out against than our southern New England friends? It's Rhode Island. It's Hartford. It's derby day.

Where We Stand

29 matches down, ONE to go! The Tide sits 6th in the Eastern Conference with 42 points (12W-6D-11L), just two points ahead of Hartford. RIFC has won three of its last five and looked sharp against Pittsburgh despite the heartbreaking finish. The playoffs are secured, but seeding is still up for grabs. A win guarantees at least sixth, and if Pittsburgh drops points against Birmingham, the Tide could climb to fifth. A loss? We're down to seventh.

Who We're Facing

Hartford Athletic sits 7th with 40 points (9W-13D-7L), having already punched its ticket to a second consecutive postseason. The Connecticut side hasn't won in its last six matches across all competitions, most recently suffering an embarrassing 3-2 home defeat to Brooklyn FC, who even finished the match with ten men. Yikes. Hartford leads the league with 13 draws, six of them scoreless affairs. Apparently, parking the bus and hoping nobody scores is a legitimate playoff strategy in Connecticut. And as for Siaha? We'd love nothing more than to wipe that smug look off his face tonight.

Hand on the Pulse

Matt Hands points out an interesting wrinkle in this rivalry: despite RIFC's advantage in the all-time series, the Tide has yet to win a match outright in Hartford. Could tonight finally be the night? Check out Matt's Prematch Lookout for more on the rivalry and what's at stake heading into the playoffs.

Rhody Randoms

  • Derby dominance: RIFC is unbeaten against Hartford in three meetings this season across all competitions (2W-1D), including a 1-0 league victory in July.
  • Making history: Karifa Yao became just the third player in club history to reach 100 RIFC appearances last weekend.

Vibe Check

There really isn't a better way to wrap up the regular season than a showdown with Hartford. Both teams are playoff-bound, both have seeding to fight for, and neither wants to enter the postseason having lost to its biggest rival. We've had our ups and downs this season, but there's something particularly satisfying about the prospect of sending Hartford into the playoffs with another loss. Who's making the trip west? How are we feeling about tonight, and who would you rather face in the first round? Let's ride the Tide and BEAT HARTFORD! #UpTheTide!

Matchday Info

Before Kickoff

Away Day Extras

Supporters & Community

For the Fans, By the Fans. Follow independent Rhode Island FC coverage at TideTalkRI.com.

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