HARVARD (0-0-1)
Starters: Wood (GK), Fahmy, White, Riecke, Ojea Quintana, Isakovic, Gutierrez, Arlotti, Moore, Sardi-Santos, Fujiwara 
Substitutes: Gunnarsson, Bjarnason, Savva, Kelly, Dalaker, Tellado, Vician, Veghte

RHODE ISLAND (1-0-2)
Starters: Rodriguez (GK), Nilsen, Clarke-Tosczak, De Castro, Montoro, Oystese, Castaneda, Etxegarai, Mwamba, Kwitchoff, Hofstetter
Substitutes: Taylor, Schwab, Villanueva, Yurkovic

Scoring Summary
None

How it Happened 
Rhode Island remained unscored upon this season as the Rams battled to a scoreless draw at Harvard Friday afternoon. The Crimson - playing their season opener - were ranked 45th in the final 2022 RPI ranking last fall.

The physical defensive battle feature just a handful of chances on net, as the teams combined for five shots on goal. Rhode Island did not allow any shots on goal in the second half as it posted its third consecutive shutout.

Harvard had the best chances of the opening half, but URI keeper Edu Rodriguez was up to the task. In the 18th minute, Ale Gutierrez had a one-timer off a cross, but didn't get much on the shot, and Rodriguez smothered the chance. Three minutes later, Marcos Ojea Quintana had the best shot of the opening 45, firing a low hard shot to Rodriguez' right, but again, Rhody's keeper made the stop.

The Crimson opened fast in the second half, getting off two shots in the first 45 seconds. Alessandro Arlotti's shot from the right corner of the box was knocked away by URI's Joseph Mwamba. Kaoru Fujiwara took a cross at the top of the box and launched a drive that went over the crossbar for a goal kick.

With 26 minutes remaining, Harvard's Jan Riecke appeared to get a hand on the ball in the box following a URI shot, but no call was made. Two minutes later, Kevin Castaneda got a head on a deflected cross from Michael Hofstetter, but the shot floated over the crossbar.

Arlotti provided a strong chance for Harvard with 17 minutes to go. He corralled a missed clearance to the left side of the URI box and sent a low cross through the box, but the ball evaded three Harvard players and rolled harmlessly to the right sideline.

Inside the Box Score

• Harvard was whistled for 17 fouls, compared to seven for Rhode Island.
• URI had a 6-2 edge in corner kicks. The Rams did not allow a corner kick until the 74th minute. 
• Rhody keeper Edu Rodriguez made three saves for his first complete shutout as a Ram. It is his 11th career shutout in 38 matches.
• Harvard outshot Rhode Island in the opening half, 6-4, including a 3-1 edge in shots on goal. The second half saw Rhody get the lone shot on net, a header by Mathias Taylor in the 79th minute.
• Rafa Villanueva recorded the team's first shot on goal, which came in the 19th minute.
• Freshman defender Joseph Mwamba made his first career start and played all 90 minutes. 

Up Next
Rhode Island is back at the URI Soccer Complex when it hosts in-state rival Providence Monday, Sept. 4 at 7:05 p.m. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.