RIFC Playoffs in Real(ish) Time

A loud buzz filled the Thirsty Beaver for the RIFC official watch party. The place was full of yellow and blue shirts, showing support for the team’s first-ever playoff game in Indianapolis, against Indy Eleven. The bartenders strategically worked their way to serve the eager crowd. There was a wait for drinks and food, but people didn’t mind talking to the like-minded soccer fans around them. Chip chants were loud right before the game started. The harbor seal mascot rallied the crowd and posed for pictures with adults. The boobirds were replaced by cheers as they announced the RIFC starting 11. The encouraging “RI FC” call and response was lively at kickoff. The conversations were friendly, showing the bonding and friendships that faithful fans have made during this inaugural season. The Patriots game was on two of the ten TVs, but all eyes were on RIFC. The team had a successful first season, finishing in fifth place with 51 points. They finished with the same amount of points as Indy, but a tiebreaker prevented this from being a home game at their temporary home at Beirne Stadium. Everyone could sense the happiness and camaraderie throughout the Thirsty Beaver. People brought their own yellow and red cards to hold up for either a correct call or an incorrect call. Others got creative and held up mustard or ketchup bottles to signify yellow or red. The crowd bonded over their love for the first-year soccer club. The cheers grew as a handball turned into a penalty kick that turned into an eruption as JJ Williams netted their first-ever playoff goal, giving RIFC a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute. The air became tense in minute 33 of the match as Indy got a free kick off a foul. RIFC defended it, but Indy was able to capitalize on their corner kick, tying the game. It grew a bit quieter. That quiet didn’t last long, as RIFC retook the lead in minute 38 after the second goal by Williams on an assist from Noah Fuson. Chip led an “RI FC” chant, which got everyone involved. The building was loud and no one seemed to care or notice that Patriots’s quarterback Drake Maye threw an end zone interception around that same time. Indy brought a little bit of interest and worry at the end of the first half. They had a good scoring opportunity in minute 50 (five minutes into extra time), with RIFC’s goalie Koke Vegas giving up a couple juicy rebounds, securing the ball shortly before the three whistles blew to end the half. A couple of people left at halftime, but not many. I spoke with a group of three as they headed to their cars. They said that they were leaving to make room for other fans, and planned to finish watching the game at home. There were many other watch parties taking place throughout the state, which was encouraging for a new team that will soon be moving to the Tidewater Stadium in Pawtucket. There was no fanfare at the start of the second half, which seemed to catch fans off guard. RIFC brought eyes back to the screen in less than a minute, with a good scoring chance that didn’t pan out. Everyone went nuts in minute 52 as Williams made it a hat trick and gave RIFC a two-goal lead with a header that made its way to the back of the net. It was the loudest moment up to that point. People broke out in RIFC and Chip chants. The cushion of the multi-goal lead was felt throughout the room, as everyone seemed more relaxed and extra encouraged. You could feel the fun in the room as an Indy player got a yellow card. Confidence was everywhere. Chip showcased his dance moves as the crowd tended to their drinks, food and conversation. Williams was subbed out in minute 61, getting a well-earned rest after netting his second hat trick in a row. Albert Dikwa, last year’s Golden Boot winner, who proudly wears #10 (reserved for the top player) replaced him, backed by a roar from the restaurant crowd. The crowd went numb in minute 75 as Indy cut the lead in half with a goal that caught everyone (including the team) off guard. There was clear tension with another 14 minutes (plus stoppage time) on the clock. RIFC went into defense mode in minute 83, subbing in extra defenders to keep the one-goal advantage. There were cheers for good plays, but carefree moments were replaced with a worry that the lead could be lost at any moment. Things became more tense with about three minutes left when the announcer mentioned that RIFC was playing a man down due to an injury after they made all of their substitutions. You could feel the collective blood pressure rise hoping they could hold off Indy’s onslaught. Nine minutes of stoppage time only added to that tension. Vegas made a big save six minutes into stoppage time. Every Indy touch brought worry, quickly followed by cheers as RIFC was able to hold them off until the three whistles blew, securing their first playoff victory and a trip to Louisville to play top-seed, Louisville City FC the following Saturday. •

In the semi-finals, RIFC clinched a 3-0 victory over Louisville City and made it to the finals. There, they beat The Charleston Battery to claim the eastern conference title before finally losing to the new national champions, the Colorado Springs Switchbacks, 0-3. All in all, not a bad showing for a brand new club from our nation’s smallest state.