Route 6 Derby
| Other names | El Clamico |
|---|---|
| Teams | |
| First meeting | HFD 1–1 RIFC 2024 USL Championship (June 1, 2024) |
| Latest meeting | HFD 3–0 RIFC 2025 USL Championship (August 23, 2025) |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 5 |
| Most wins | Hartford (2) |
| Top scorer | 11 tied (1 goal) |
| All-time series | Hartford: 2 Drawn: 2 Rhode Island: 1 |
| Largest victory | RIFC 3–0 HFD 2024 USL Championship (August 10, 2024) HFD 3–0 RIFC 2025 USL Championship (August 23, 2025) |
The Route 6 Derby, or also known as El Clamico is a rivalry between American soccer clubs representing the New England states of Connecticut and Rhode Island. Both states are represented in the second-tier league known as the USL Championship by Hartford Athletic and Rhode Island FC.
| Team | Location | Arena |
|---|---|---|
| Hartford Athletic | Hartford, CT | Trinity Health Stadium |
| Rhode Island FC | Pawtucket, RI | Centreville Bank Stadium Beirne Stadium (2024) |
History
The first ever match in the series was on June 1, 2024, at Trinity Health Stadium in Hartford in front of 5,500 fans. RIFC's Mark Doyle scored the first goal in the 4th minute of the game. Joe Farrell of Hartford would counter right back at the 24th minute, with the game concluding 1-1 draw. The second 2024 USL Championship season matchup was played at the home stadium of Bryant University's football stadium, Beirne Stadium in Smithfield, Rhode Island. RIFC would go on to beat Hartford 3-0, with goals from Grant Stoneman, Frank Nodarse, Joseph Brito. RIFC took the 2024 season series with 1 win, one draw, and no losses. Hartford would finish the season in 10th place, and Rhode Island at 5th place. In the playoffs, RIFC makes the USL Championship final, losing to Colorado Springs 3-0.
The first 2025 USL Championship season matchup between the two clubs was played on July 19 in Rhode Island in front of 10,619 fans. The game would end in a 0-0 draw with a 36 combined fouls and 12 minutes of second-half stoppage.[1] The following week the two would play again in the 2025 USL Cup. Hartford earned the victory in a shoutout 4-3. The day before the August 23 matchup, Hartford Athletic released a mini docuseries about the derby. [2] On the 23rd, Hartford beat RIFC 3-0, with goals from Samuel Careaga, Kyle Edwards, and Owen Presthus.[3] The win helped the Athletics claim the 2025 season series with 2 wins, one draw, and no losses.
Results
| Hartford Athletic victories | Rhode Island FC victories |
| No. | Date | Location | Winner | Score | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | June 1, 2024 | Hartford, Connecticut | Tie | 1–1 | ||||
| 2 | August 10, 2024 | Smithfield, Rhode Island | Rhode Island FC | 3–0 | ||||
| 3 | July 19, 2025 | Pawtucket, Rhode Island | Tie | 0–0 | ||||
| 4 | July 26, 2025 | Pawtucket, Rhode Island | Hartford Athletic | 4–3 (SO) | ||||
| 5 | August 23, 2025 | Hartford, Connecticut | Hartford Athletic | 3–0 | ||||
| Series: Hartford Athletic leads 2–1–2 | ||||||||
Match Results
Home team is listed on the left, away team is listed on the right. Home team's score is listed first.
Rhode Island win Hartford win Draw
| June 1, 2024 USLC | Hartford Athletic | 1–1 | Rhode Island FC | Hartford, CT |
| 4:00 PM EDT | Farrell  24' |
[Report] | Doyle 4' Doyle  86' |
Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium Attendance: 5,500 Referee: Luis Arroyo |
| August 10, 2024 USLC | Rhode Island FC | 3–0 | Hartford Athletic | Smithfield, RI |
| 7:30 PM EDT | Holstad 22' Stoneman 29'Nodarse 49' Fuson 52' Yao 76'Brito 90+1' |
[Report] [Report] | Farrell 66' Samadia 69'Boudadi 77' |
Stadium: Beirne Stadium Attendance: 5,252 Referee: Joshua Encarnación |
| July 19, 2025 USLC | Rhode Island FC | 0-0 | Hartford Athletic | Pawtucket, RI |
| 7:30 PM EDT | Y'barra 7' Shapiro-Thompson 45+5'Bacharach 86'Kwizera 90+8'Yao 90+9' |
[Report] | Samadia 19' Dieng 51'Hairston 90+11'Siaha 90+12' |
Stadium: Centreville Bank Stadium Attendance: 10,619 Referee: Jeremy Scheer |
| July 26, 2025 USL Cup | Rhode Island FC | 2-2 (3-4 PK) | Hartford Athletic | Pawtucket, RI |
| 7:30 PM EDT | Fuson 11' Shapiro-Thompson 49' Holstad 56' Rodriguez 71' Rodriguez 79' |
[Report] | Makangila 22' Makangila 28 Presthus 45+3' Farrell 64' Siaha 78' Diz Pe 83' |
Stadium: Centreville Bank Stadium Attendance: 7,242 Referee: Brandon Stevis |
| August 23, 2025 USLC | Hartford Athletic | 3-0 | Rhode Island FC | Hartford, CT |
| 7:30 PM EDT | Careaga 5' Makangila 48' Obalola 50' Edwards 73' O. Presthus 90' Diz Pe 90+3' |
[Recap] | Corcoran 57' Sanchez 84 |
Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium Attendance: 5,500 Referee: Elvis Osmanovic |
Match Statistics
| Competition | Played | HFD Wins | Draws | RIFC Wins | HFD Goals | RIFC Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USL Championship | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| USL Cup - Jägermeister Cup | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| U.S. Open Cup | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 6 |
Eastern Conference standings finishes
HFD RIFC
| P. | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||
| 2 | ||
| 3 | ||
| 4 | ||
| 5 | 5 | |
| 6 | ||
| 7 | 7 | |
| 8 | ||
| 9 | 9 | |
| 10 | 10 | |
| 11 | ||
| 12 |
• Total: Rhode Island with 1 higher finishes, Hartford with 0.
Top goalscorers
- As of August 23, 2025. Does not include own goals.
| Position | Name | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Grant Stoneman
|
Rhode Island FC | 1 |
 Frank Nodarse
|
Rhode Island FC | ||
| Joe Brito
|
Rhode Island FC | ||
| Joseph Farrell
|
Hartford Athletic | ||
| Amos Shapiro-Thompson
|
Rhode Island FC | ||
| Maxi Rodriguez
|
Rhode Island FC | ||
| Adrián Diz
|
Hartford Athletic | ||
| TJ Presthus
|
Hartford Athletic | ||
 Samuel Careaga
|
Hartford Athletic | ||
 Kyle Edwards
|
Hartford Athletic | ||
| Owen Presthus
|
Hartford Athletic |
Players who played for both clubs
- As of July 14, 2025[update]
| Player | Hartford Athletic career | Rhode Island FC career | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Span | Apps | Goals | Span | Apps | Goals | |
| Conor McGlynn
|
2020-2023 | 99 | 9 | 2024 | 14 | 1 |
 Prince Saydee
|
2022-2023 | 64 | 14 | 2024 | 10 | 0 |
References
Template:Hartford Athletic Template:Rhode Island FC
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