Rhode Island FC runs unbeaten streak to 7 on Herivaux’s winner against North Carolina FC

SMITHFIELD — Rhode Island FC might have lost Saturday’s game at the start of the club’s inaugural season.

Missed chances and defensive lapses, like the ones in the first half against North Carolina FC, turned draws into losses and wins into one point. But a few months into the season and Rhode Island has rounded into form. Mark Doyle’s timely substitution landed the striker in front of the net to clean a rebound.

Zachary Herivaux, also in replacement, drilled the advantage bar down for a 2-1 comeback win against North Carolina FC at Beirne Stadium. The win, RIFC’s third in a row, ran the team's unbeaten streak to seven and gave it a five-point cushion ahead of North Carolina in the Eastern Conference.

Rhode Island (5-4-10) is currently one point ahead of Loudoun United FC for seventh in league play and will travel to Detroit City FC on Saturday.

“Early in the year, we probably would have tied or lost that game,” RIFC coach Khano Smith said. “We've definitely seen some growth and development in the group.

“We just kept the momentum going. But really happy for the team — [we] talked about them maturing and how much this game meant in terms of putting space between us and [North Carolina FC].”

Doyle entered in the 70th and just four minutes later, Grant Stoneman nailed the crossbar from distance. Doyle, following the possession, headed in the equalizing tally, which he also did off the bench in the club’s opener in March.

“That's not luck that he showed up in that position,” Smith said of Doyle. “That’s skill; he's clever in his movement and that's his experience. He's only 24 but has been a professional for eight years.”

Herivaux’s winner was more force than Doyle’s opportunistic timing in the box. Noah Fuson’s through ball split two defenders and found the right foot of the reigning USL Championship player of the week. Herivaux collected and used one touch to push into space before clipping the top bar for the score in the 84th minute.

The finish was Herivaux’s third goal in two matches after signing with the team via transfer from the Tampa Bay Rowdies on July 3. Herivaux’s arrival coincides with a scoring outbreak for Rhode Island over the last seven games. After struggling to score the first two months of the season, RIFC has netted 21 goals over the last seven contests.

“It just takes time [to build a team],” Smith said. “I know people get impatient and think you can throw 11 people on the field and think that's going to gel. It just doesn't work like that, unfortunately. I wish it did but it doesn't, so they needed time playing with each other and practicing with each other.”

Doyle and Herivaux’s scores off the bench paint a larger picture. The depth along with the club’s cohesiveness have changed lineup opportunities for Smith. He can dig into his bag and pull together a late win at home.

“I think it's just a collective effort,” Smith said. “It's a strong bench. I’m just spoiled for choices right now to bring in guys that can change the game.”

After having a minus-4 goal differential in mid-May, RIFC has turned that around — to plus-2 — and climbed two spots in the conference standings.

“We still don't have a winning record at home, so we're not an elite team,” Smith said. “We're not a good team yet. We're not getting carried away or getting ahead of ourselves.”

jrousseau@providencejournal.com

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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Rhode Island FC runs unbeaten streak to 7 on Herivaux’s winner against North Carolina FC