The Riptide Report: Hartford Athletic vs Rhode Island FC - 8/23/2025

RIFC fell 3-0 to Hartford Athletic in their third meeting of 2025.  In a year that has been full of disappointing results, this was by far the worst.  Losing a derby in the way this team did is unacceptable. 

This blog is normally reserved for some quick takeaways from the game on the field.  But to be honest, there's nothing worth talking about.  This team has looked like they're going nowhere all season and tonight was a microcosm of RIFC in 2025.  So instead of touching on the horrendous performance on the field, I'm going to focus on the only thing in this derby that bothered to show up

Traveling Support

Defiance 1636 brought easily over 100 people to Hartford.  It was a great display of what traveling support should be.  We support this team through the good and the bad.  And even though right now it's the worst it's been in our less than 2 year existence, we will still bring it week in and week out.

Everyone who was able to travel did this club proud.  We came together as a community.  And that's what this is all about.  We all share a love for this team in amber and blue.  It's our team.  From our state.  Up the Tide forever

Up Next

Tide Talk will be back with a postmatch pod tomorrow.  We will attempt to figure out how to talk about what was an embarrassing result.  I certainly couldn't do it tonight, so I don't envy anyone who goes on the pod.  Timmy will also have player ratings, and I wouldn't blame him if he just gave a 0/10 blanket score to the game overall.  RIFC have a tough home match against Charleston Battery next weekend so I will be back to preview that one late next week.  Until then, UP THE TIDE!