COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Throughout its nine-game undefeated streak to reach the 2024 USL Championship Final, power in attack had been Rhode Island’s calling card.

Even excluding its eight-goal romp against Miami FC to close the regular season, RIFC was consistent in creating chances and making the most of them. It had still averaged more than two goals per game otherwise, fueling road victories in the postseason against Indy Eleven, Louisville City FC and the Charleston Battery.

On the biggest stage, the lights proved too bright.

It resulted in a 3-0 defeat to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC that ended RIFC’s dream of becoming only the second team in league history to with the title in its expansion season.

“I’m disappointed with today,” said RIFC Head Coach Khano Smith. “I don’t think we played well. … That’s a club that's been around for 10 years. Credit to them, they were outstanding today, we just couldn’t deal with it.”

For an attack that had been among the most potent in the Championship down the stretch, recording multiple goals in each of its prior postseason outings, Rhode Island looked out of sorts for much of the game. At times, they were stymied by the Switchbacks, whose energy fed off a boisterous crowd at Weidner Field, but at other times RIFC’s undoing came of its own accord as the connections that proved so fruitful previously in the playoffs failed to register.

Only once this season had Rhode Island recorded a lower Expected Goals mark than the 0.21xG it produced against the Switchbacks. The visitors had 17 touches in the attacking penalty area – more than their hosts – but forced only two saves from Colorado Springs goalkeeper Christian Herrera, with both of those coming when the side was already trailing by three goals.

“I think they did really well,” said RIFC captain and goalkeeper Koke Vegas. “Obviously, you have a little bit of handicap when you play away, when you play at altitude, all those things, but they are not an excuse. Their energy at the beginning, I think was better than us.”

And yet, as their supporters led by Defiance 1636 maintained the drums and songs that had punctuated the 90 minutes well after the final whistle had gone, as much as there was disappointment, there was an undeniable sense of optimism this was just the start for Rhode Island.

It’s well-founded. Over the club’s inaugural season, it’s grown in leaps and bounds, putting together a historic postseason run while taking victories against its more established counterparts in the Eastern Conference. One defeat wasn’t going to change that, even as much as a victory would have capped a special run.

“Hopefully you guys are proud of us,” said Vegas. “I’m really proud of every single one. And when I say every single one, it is not only the club, it’s the people that are outside the club, the people that are following us, the people that move from Rhode Island to watch us play playoff games, to watch regular season games. This is amazing.

“I think if you remember my first interview when I arrived, I said we want to build something special on and off the pitch, and I think we are doing that. So, we have to be really proud with the people that are supporting us here.”

In a way, the incredible scene in Colorado Springs on Saturday that was transmitted to a national audience could have been a glimpse into Rhode Island’s future. As RIFC’s new 10,500-capacity venue at Tidewater Landing arrives next spring, the side has the potential to become a perennial title contender in the way the Switchbacks have become over the past four seasons.

For Vegas, there’s no question the club will have what it takes to get another shot at a title.

For Smith, the side’s loss provides a marker for the future.

“Overall, so proud of them, for them to reach this moment in the first year,” said Smith. Like it sucks in this [moment], but when we have time to reflect, we should be really proud of what we’ve done and what they’ve done, and [it’s] just the beginning.

“Their club has been around for 10 years. We’ve been around for one, so that’s what we’re chasing and that’s what we want.”