standings<\/a> in 2025, and currently sits in 10th place in the West. Despite its recent struggles, Sacramento is just two points out of the final playoff spot with three games in hand, and has a real opportunity to climb the table quickly if it can get back to winning ways on Wednesday.<\/p>\nSlim Margins
Sacramento\u2019s 1-0 loss to New Mexico United added to a long list of narrow results \u2013 just three regular-season games for Sacramento have been decided by two or more goals this season. Although the Western Conference club ranks among the bottom three teams in the league in goals (13), shots (134) and shot conversion rate (13 percent) through 12 regular-season games, it makes up for those struggles with a disciplined defensive unit that has conceded the third-fewest goals in the league (12). In its 1-0 loss to New Mexico last time out, Sacramento\u2019s conversion struggles continued to hurt it, as the club suffered a shutout defeat despite rattling off a season-high 19 shots.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Home Sweet Home
Sacramento\u2019s loss to New Mexico was just its second defeat in 10 games at home across all competitions this season, and marked the first time all season that it has failed to score in front of its home fans. Sacramento has been otherwise very strong at Heart Health Park this season, holding a 5W-2L-3T record across all competitions, out-scoring its opponents 16-6 and keeping five clean sheets in 10 games. Facing an opportunity to jump above the playoff line against a team Sacramento has never lost against, Wednesday\u2019s contest is pivotal for it to get back to winning ways in front of its loyal supporters.<\/p>\n
RHODE ISLAND FC<\/p>\n
Roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): 1-Koke Vegas, 13-Will Meyer, 29-Jacob Castro
DEFENDERS (8): 2-Dani Rovira, 3-Aldair Sanchez, 4-Hugo Bacharach, 5-Grant Stoneman, 15-Frank Nodarse, 22-Nick Scardina, 24-Karifa Yao, 25-CJ Williams, 32-Hamady Diop
MIDFIELDERS (7): 7-Dwayne Atkinson, 10-Agust\u00edn \u201cPity\u201d Rodr\u00edguez, 12-Clay Holstad, 17-Jojea Kwizera, 19-Kevin Vang, 21-Zachary Herivaux, 77-Amos Shapiro-Thompson\u00a0
FORWARDS (4): 8-Leo Afonso, 9-JJ Williams, 11-Noah Fuson, 20-Jamin Gogo Peters<\/p>\n
Back to Business
After a three-week break, Rhode Island FC returned to action on July 4th with a dominant display at home, holding Orange County SC to a 1-1 tie. Despite not getting the win, the Ocean State club continued to look incredibly strong in the final third: RIFC dominated the statsheet in shots (24-2), corners (10-2), touches in the opponent\u2019s box (44-9) and crosses (29-8) against the Western Conference leaders. Its 24 shots were the most it has taken in a regular-season game in club history, while the two shots it faced were the fewest in regular-season club history.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
An Unlikely Hero
Defender Hugo Bacharach scored RIFC\u2019s lone goal to open the scoring on Saturday, giving RIFC the lead over the Western Conference leaders with his second professional goal for Rhode Island FC. Bacharach became the ninth RIFC player to score a regular-season goal in 2026 for Rhode Island FC, bringing the club\u2019s total to 22 goals across 12 games, which ranks eighth in the USL Championship. Scoring an average of 1.8 goals per game, the Ocean State club\u2019s reinvigorated attack this season is on pace to challenge its record-setting 56-goal output during its historical inaugural season in 2024.<\/p>\n
For the Recordbooks
Rhode Island FC is winless in three all-time meetings (0W-1L-2T) vs. Sacramento Republic FC, all of which have taken place in the Ocean State. The two clubs met twice last season, beginning when Sacramento delivered RIFC a 2-0 loss at Centreville Bank Stadium on June 21, 2025. Sacramento returned to Pawtucket on Sept. 10 in the semifinals of the USL Cup, where the two clubs battled to a scoreless tie before the visitors prevailed in a penalty shootout. Wednesday\u2019s meeting will mark the first time the two clubs do battle in Sacramento, and will make Sacramento RIFC\u2019s most frequently played Western Conference opponent. RIFC is 7W-7L-10T all-time against Western Conference teams, including a 1W-0L-1T record this season.<\/p>\n
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