UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Justin McLean bagged a brace, Richard Fleming added a goal and Kieran Chandler assisted on two scores as the Long Island Rough Riders men solidified their hold on first place in the Metropolitan Division with a 3-0 victory over the Cedar Stars Academy in a USL League Two match at Mitchel Athletic Complex on Sunday night.
The Rough Riders (7-1-1, 22 points) increased their lead to three points over Manhattan SC (6-2-1, 19) and Hudson Valley Hammers (6-2-1, 19), with three games remaining in the regular season.
Goalkeeper Eryk Dymora recorded the clean sheet.
McLean, who scored on either side of halftime, gave the hosts all the scoring they needed in the 43rd minute past Pedro Batista.
He added his second goal off a Kieran Chandler feed in the 64th minute.
Fleming, off a Chandler pass, scored to make it 3-0 in the 73rd minute.
In the first game of the doubleheader, the Rough Riders women recorded a 3-1 win over Cedar Stars in a USL W League match that was abandoned after the first half due to lightning.
The Rough Riders men will finish the regular season on the road.
They will play at the Staten Island Monarchs on Wednesday, July 3 at 7 p.m., at the Westchester Flames on Saturday, July 6 at 7:30 p.m., and then at Manhattan Soccer Club on Wednesday, July 10 at 7:30 p.m.