Rhode Island (3-0)
Starters: DiLoreto (GK), Clarke-Tosczak, Namussé, Sanchis, Bermingham, Walker, Gryczewski, Mwamba, Harris, Schwab, Morrill
Substitutes: Etxegarai, Taylor, Yurkovic

Stonehill (0-3-1)
Starters: Sloan (GK), Lima-Bittencourt, Milliken, Lagoa, Forrest, Hines, Olsvik, Monteiro, Kahawai, Hargraves, Kampe
Substitutes: Rapoza, Fonseca, Maiwaldt, Sullivan, O'Neil, Gniedziejko

Scoring Summary
3:26 - URI – Brandon Bermingham (Nikos Clarke-Tosczak)
 
How it Happened
Rhode Island tied a program record with its sixth consecutive shutout, winning 1-0 at Stonehill Sunday afternoon. The Rams also have started the season with three straight wins for just the seventh time in program history, and the first time since 2018.

Host Stonehill had the first strong chance of the match when Jaxson Kahawai got his head on a cross just minutes after the opening kickoff. The shot went just wide. Moments later, Rhode Island's Brandon Bermingham took a pass from Nikos Clarke-Tosczak and broke down the left side of the field. After a couple touches, Bermingham slipped a low shot to the right of keeper Tyler Sloan for a 1-0 lead just three minutes and 27 seconds into the match.

Rhody keeper Nate DiLoreto – in his first appearance of the season – made a diving stop on a quick shot by Nate Monteiro in the 38th minute. Monteiro collected a pass in the box, turned and fired a low shot to the left of DiLoreto, who got low and pushed the shot away.

Stonehill had two strong chances midway through the second half. A cross from Tiago Lima-Bittencourt found the foot of Jared Raposa, but his shot went off the crossbar in the 71st minute. Moments later, Lima-Bittencourt sent a cross to Monteiro at the top of the box, but his hard liner was deflected away by defender Isnaba Namussé.

Despite facing 11 shots, Rhode Island kept the sheet clean for its sixth straight match, tying the program record set by the 2018 team that posted shutouts in its first six matches.

Inside the Box Score 

• Rhode Island has the second-longest active shutout streak in the nation. Elon has eight straight shutouts, with five to end last season and three more this year. Elon's 2023 season finale was a 0-0 tie in the CAA championship, which was won by Monmouth in a shootout.
• Forward Brandon Bermingham's goal in the fourth minute was his seventh in 12 career matches for Rhode Island.
• Defender Nikos Clarke-Tosczak recorded his third career assist on Birmingham's goal.
• Redshirt junior Nate DiLoreto made the start in goal. He has two shutouts in the three starts, and has allowed just one goal in 318:36 minutes in net for the Rams.
• Defenders Isnaba Namussé and Jason Morrill both made their first start of the season as Rhode Island played without center backs Tim Huhnholz and Rodrigo De Castro. The backline of Namussé, Morrill, Nikos Clarke-Tosczak and Joseph Mwamba all played all 90 minutes to help keeper Nate DiLoreto post the shutout.
• Rhode Island used just 14 players in the match.

Up Next
Rhode Island is back at the URI Soccer Complex Thursday, Sept. 5 when it hosts Harvard at 7:05 p.m. The match will stream on ESPN+.