The Latics are aiming for three more points against New England’s other USL Championship team after ending a six-game losing streak.
Hartford Athletic welcomes new local rivals Rhode Island FC to Trinity Health Stadium for the first-ever meeting between the two clubs as the Latics look to build on last week’s come-from-behind win over Monterey Bay FC. With both teams trying to find their form, the matchup promises a fascinating kickoff to what fans of both clubs hope will be a significant rivalry in the USL Championship for years to come.
After a skid that saw Hartford lose six consecutive games in all competitions, including 6-0 and 4-1 hammerings at the hands of Louisville City and Indy Eleven, Saturday’s win was a much-needed result. This week, however, the challenge for the side is to demonstrate that the result against Monterey Bay was not a fluke win over another cold team, but a real step in a positive direction.
While there is no history between the two clubs — as RIFC are only in their inaugural season — fans are deeply invested in the new rivalry. In Hartford’s entire existence in the USL Championship, the only other team in the league that could be considered a “local” rival was NY Red Bulls II – and while the Baby Bulls did always draw a few fans up to Trinity Health Stadium — the rivalry was hardly a meaningful one.
RIFC are an entirely different prospect.
With Beirne Stadium a mere 70 miles away, a good traveling contingent can be expected at THS in a league game for probably the first time in club history.
Everyone in the Hartford locker room is expecting a physical game, with manager Brendan Burke saying “This will be up there with one of the most physical games of the year.”
The Latics have struggled in some previous tests against physical teams like San Antonio and Indy Eleven, and Burke stressed the need for the team to rise to the occasion, but also remain controlled. Midfielder Jay Chapman echoed these sentiments and added that the closed-door preseason game between the two clubs had “got chippy early on.”
Rhode Island’s physicality has been a key component of a playing style that has seen them grind out a league-leading number of draws (seven in their first eleven games); despite a lack of goalscoring edge, they have stayed in games with a consistent defense and managed credible results against some of the best teams in the league.
There are familiar faces on the Rhode Island sideline: midfielder Conor McGlynn — who spent four years in Hartford and trails only Danny Barrera for appearances by a Latic — was one of RIFC’s prized acquisitions although suspensions and injury have limited his appearances in the early going. Additionally, winger Prince Saydee – who had two superlative years in Hartford, often being the only bright spot in dark times for the club – has been lightly used, but will also be hoping to make an impact on Saturday night.
Rivalries are not built only on proximity; the local factor will help drive interest but both clubs will need to deliver on the pitch for this derby to be everything fans hope for. From a Hartford perspective, getting the first win over their new noisy neighbors will be job one but the larger picture remains for a team that has bigger dreams for this season.
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