We’ve now surpassed the midpoint of Rhode Island FC’s inaugural season, which has thus far  been a rollercoaster. Many surprising results, thrilling matches, hard-fought wins, and A LOT of draws. Now, it’s time to take a quick breather and look back at the standout players and moments from the first half of the year by handing out some midseason awards and superlatives.

Best Overall Player:

I may be biased in my selection for this award because he has been my favorite player all year, but to me this has to go to Clay Holstad. Just behind Frank Nodarse as FotMob’s top rated player so far this season, Holstad has been our utility player and Swiss army knife. He’s plugged holes all over the roster as head coach Khano Smith has been forced to manage a myriad of player injuries. And he’s been as consistent a performer on the pitch as anyone despite being asked to play so many different positions. (Sometimes even within one match!) 

Most notably, he has filled in at starting CB in a handful of matches due to the lack of healthy depth at the position. I wish we could clone him because putting him at CB has taken away from the impact he brings in the midfield and in the attack. That is a testament to how important he has been to the success of this team.  Clay, for my money, is the first half MVP of this team and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him on an MLS roster next year.

Most Exciting Player:

This could go to a few players, but I’ll give this one to Noah Fuson. (Holstad and Isaac Angking get Honorable Mention here.) His 8 goal contributions (4 G, 4 A) are tied for the team lead with Chico Diwka (6 G, 2 A). Fuson brings a lot of energy to the attack and has routinely presented problems for Rhode Island’s opponents to figure out. Noah has been most dangerous when playing off center in the attacking line or out wide because he’s able to attack defenders in space with the goal in front of him. Lately he’s been a tremendous ‘super sub’, coming into the match in the second half and immediately wreaking havoc on the defense with his fresh legs and vibrant playing style. 

Most Underrated Player:

Marc Ybarra has been referred to as our “Garbage Man” for all the dirty work he handles each week. He has played nearly every minute and has been a critical piece in the midfield, particularly during defensive transitions after losing possession. He’s currently 5th on the team in FotMob’s average player ratings but he’s rarely called out as a top performer because of all the unheralded work he puts in. Early in the season his set piece deliveries left a lot to be desired, but after resuming those responsibilities when Jack P left the team Ybarra’s set pieces have largely been very dangerous. It’s clear he has worked hard at improving in this area and that improvement has led to a handful of goal-scoring opportunities as of late.

Best Defender:

Frank Nodarse is my pick here. He’s been tremendous as a pure defender, he’s scored 4 goals off headers in the attack (3 coming from corner kicks), he’s confident on the ball, and he is a big reason why the defensive line found stability after early season injury issues led to a number of head-scratching defensive mistakes. He’s been rock alongside Karifa Yao while becoming the top rated player on the squad according to FotMob. Frank the Tank has been a fan favorite this year. Long may it continue.

Best Midfielder:

Another tough one, but I’ll pick someone other than Holstad given that he’s seemingly played in multiple positions. Instead, I’ll give this to Stephen Turnbull. He’s 4th on the team in FotMob’s player rankings and has been consistently good all season long. He brings so much energy and attitude in the attack and he’s done very well at seamlessly slotting into the back line during defensive transitions while still being able to shoot up the sidelines on counterattacks. His goal against Sacramento Republic was a banger that would rank 3rd in my Goal of the Season vote. (Keep reading to find out my top pick!) He is a solid, dependable, and exciting player who loves some shithousery. (Who could forget his Miazga-like antics in the home opener against New Mexico United?)

Best Forward:

You would think the leading goalscorer of the team would make this a pretty easy choice, but it is closer than the numbers show. My vote is for Chico Dikwa, who leads the team with 6 goals and two assists, one of which was hugely important (and impressive) in feeding Isaac Angking for the tying goal against Indy Eleven. He’s been very up and down in his finishing but it’s clear the talent is there. I think some people are disappointed with the performance of last year’s golden boot winner / MVP but I think the team’s lack of chance creation for most of the early part of the season really made it difficult for Chico to pour in the goals. After last week’s performance against Miami and with the team’s offensive improvements in general, the hope here is that Chico finds his groove and starts stacking up the goal tally. He also opens up space for others in the attack because he is a focal point for the opposing defense, which allows the team around him to flourish.

A close second is JJ Williams who, in my opinion, was the key to this offense finding its rhythm. He was injured for many weeks to start the year so I don’t feel that he’s earned the Best Forward award for the first half of the season, but he’s probably the favorite to earn this honor at the end of the year when looking back at the full season..

Best Goalkeeper:

Oh boy…. This may be the most hotly debated topic of the season so far. Both goalies have been pretty good, and both have had some bad moments. Koke Vegas is our captain, the first signing in club history, and the face of the club. He’s a tremendous ambassador for the team and community and Khano built the roster around his skillset.  Jackson Lee has been brilliant at times, and victim to bad luck at other times. He’s got a bright future and I can’t see him being on this roster next year.   

Verdict:  Tie.  (Is this a cop out? Yes. Deal with it.)

Goal of the Season (so far):

There are two top candidates here, and it’s a very close call. I’ll give the nod to Holstad’s goal against Phoenix Rising off the indirect free kick inside the box.

That was a well worked team goal (and yes, I’m including Defiance 1636’s contributions in earning that free kick) that saw Holstad rip a missile into the corner after a short pass was dummied through Kwizera’s legs by Fuson catching the defense off guard. (Honorable mention to Kwizera’s stunner a few weeks ago when he nutmegged a defender and snuck in a shot no one was expecting as he was working his way across the box.)

Biggest Pleasant Surprise Player:

This has to be Nodarse, right? I don’t think this player was signed to be an every week starter but that is what he has become. He’s been huge for the team and I think he will retain his starting job even once our back line gets healthier with the return of Stoneman and Alves.

Best In-Season Addition:

There have been a few in-season additions throughout the season, most of which had small roles to play on the field thus far. These additions include Jack Panayotou, Collin Smith, Nathan Messer, Zachary Herivaux, and the academy contract signing of Kevin Orduy. I’m excluding Angking from this list because he trained with the team in preseason and then got hurt but he’s essentially been on the team all season despite not appearing until more recently.

While Jack P was a bright spot in his short time in Rhode Island (more on that below), the best in-season addition in my eyes is Zachary Herivaux. His first two appearances were short, with not much for us to take away in terms of judging his performances. But his masterpiece in the Magic City against the Birmingham Legion really shows his potential. The momentum of the game turned on a dime when he entered the pitch, with him ultimately scoring two fantastic goals that allowed RIFC to cruise to victory. His skill on the ball was also in focus. At one point he held the ball as the last man back with a Legion attacker breathing down his neck. He calmly danced around his opponent without breaking a sweat and carried on like it was never in doubt. 

League expert Kaylor Hodges of USL Show fame recently made the observation on the Tide Talk podcast (don’t forget to subscribe and smash the Like button!) that Herivaux has the potential to be the best central midfielder in the entire league.  This could end up being a huge pickup for Rhode Island and someone who has a big role to play in the second half of the season.

We Hardly Knew Ye:

Let’s pour one out for Prince Saydee and Jack Panayotou.  Prince will forever be remembered for his awful miss against Sacramento Republic from near the penalty spot when he sent the ball flying into the supporters section (and perhaps into orbit?) That goal would have extended Rhode Island’s lead against one of the league’s best teams. Instead this left the door open for a last minute equalizer by the visiting team. 

Jack P arrived on a loan move that provided an exciting flash in the pan for the four matches he played for Rhode Island before being recalled by the Revolution. He helped bring a struggling offense to life and his absence was immediately felt after being recalled. Luckily the offense has since found their way but they could definitely still use an attacking midfielder with Jack P’s skillset. At this point, it’s highly unlikely he returns. Truthfully, I don’t want him to return because I do not want to rely on an important player that could be pulled away as quickly as he joins. 

The award for this one goes to Prince Saydee. While Jack P shined during his short stint in Rhode Island, Prince’s time at RIFC was largely served as a depth piece with few standout moments. The lack of shining play combined with the Sacramento Republic missed shot gives him top honor for this award.

——————————-

It’s been a fun start to Rhode Island’s inaugural season with so many memorable moments. The boys have shown good fight all season and have represented the crest and community admirably. I’m looking forward to the second half of the year and, with any luck, a deep playoff run.  I’ll be back once the season ends to present my full season awards.

In the meantime, drop a comment below and let me know what you think of my ratings. What did I get wrong? What did I miss? And what are your expectations for the rest of this season?  

Lastly, I’d love any feedback you have, good or bad, so please let me know what I can do to make these better moving forward.

Up The Tide!