The week between Christmas and New Years might as well be a black hole. Time doesn’t exist, calories don’t count and there is only a theoretical limit to how much TV you can consume. The beauty of this black hole is that it usually provides the space and time to reflect on the year we just had and anticipate what’s to come.

For those of you who have gotten to know me, you’ll be shocked to hear that I love this time of year. For those that haven’t gotten to know me so well, you could say that I’m a pretty goal-oriented person. I love sitting down and reviewing the past year – tallying up the wins, losses, surprises and best moments.

As I reviewed my 2025, RIFC kept coming up over and over. This shouldn’t be too surprising due to this whole content creator thing. So I suppose, as I make some personal resolutions, we should make some for RIFC as well.

Start Strong

Every goal needs to start somewhere. If you’re trying to go to the gym more, lay out your clothes the night before. If you’re Rhode Island FC, you need to start the year strong.

Through March, April and May of 2024 and 2025, The Tide have taken 21 of 60 possible points putting them around that dreaded 1 point per game pace that we’ve come to know and love. This has made each season an uphill battle with RIFC fighting for a playoff spot rather than a home playoff game or Player’s Shield.

Bringing back the majority of the squad for the second straight year and no new stadium to open removes two of the common excuses we have heard of why this team started slow in 2024 and 2025.

Some Goals, Please

Sorry if this is obvious but to win a soccer match, you need to score goals. I know, big brain stuff happening over on Tide Talk.

In 2025, The Tide took a massive step back in their offensive efforts, scoring the second least amount of goals in the league. And this wasn’t some sort of fluke, the team generated the third worst Expected Goals and the second worst Big Chances Created.

Losing JJ Williams for a large part of the season hurt here, but this team only very briefly looked capable of creating a consistent level of offensive threat. Putting together an offensive game plan that takes advantage of players that Khano has worked with for two seasons now is priority #1 for the tactics team.

Dependable Defense

Now not all resolutions need to be net-new. If something is working for you, it’s always nice to get that on the list to remind yourself to keep it up.

While the offense struggled, the defense shined. Allowing the third lowest amount of goals and fourth lowest amount of Expected Goals, the defense kept this team afloat even in their worst times. Bringing back newcomers Hamady Diop and Aime Mabika alongside defensive player of the year Karifa Yao, there’s no reason that this defense shouldn’t pick up where they left off.

And we’ve seen where this model can take you. Pittsburgh just won a championship behind a defense that didn’t concede a goal the entire playoffs.

Fortress Tidewater

While the pretzel stand always dropped a 10/10 performance, The Tide were often lackluster at Centreville Bank Stadium. Picking up just 6 wins at home and only scoring 15 goals (5 were in one match), landed RIFC at 7th in the Eastern Conference in the home standings.

Making CBS a fortress would be a massive upgrade for RIFC and hopefully bring that elusive home playoff game to Pawtucket.

Add to the trophy cabinet

While this team has had their ups and downs, they have shown an ability to rise to the occasion when the lights are the brightest. Playing for the championship in year one and and a run to the Eastern Conference Finals and a PK shootout loss in the Jaegermeister Cup illustrates the identity of this team.

The loftiest of the resolutions, but one that is attainable if they nail the rest – adding another Conference Championship, Prinx Tires USL Cup, Players Shield or the big one to the trophy cabinet would cap off the perfect 2026 for Rhode Island FC. As Brett Johnson said, this is a team that is going to compete and trophies are how people keep the score.

Do you have other resolutions for The Tide? Hit us up on social media to share yours.

Happy New Year and Up the Tide!