UNIONDALE, N.Y. – The Long Island Rough Riders men’s team could not have asked for a better home opener to its USL League Two season on Wednesday night.
Francesco Tolaba, Miguel Soto Gonzalez and Findlay Oliver provided the offense and goalkeeper Ethan Wood produced a pair of back-to-back saves late in the first half en route to an impressive 3-0 victory over Staten Island ASC at Mitchel Athletic Complex. It was Wood’s second successive clean sheet of the young campaign.
The Rough Riders (six points) remained unbeaten at 2-0-0 in the Metropolitan Division while Staten Island dropped to 0-3.
The Long Island defense, anchored by the back three of Anthony Grodszki and Baptiste Bolt, bent at times but never broke.
After the teams felt each other out in the opening minutes, Long Island drew first blood on Tolaba’s penalty kick in the 19th minute. The penalty was set up, when Staten Island’s Jaden Williams took down Soto Gonzalez on the left side of the box two minutes prior.
Tolaba drilled the ensuing spot kick with his right foot into the lower left corner for his second goal of the season. Goalkeeper Harvey Sellers guessed correctly, but could not deny Tolaba’s drive.
It was the third consecutive match that Staten Island conceded the first goal.
The visitors went on the attack after the PK as Wood made his first save on a deflected shot in the 39th minute.
Wood saved his best moments in the 45th minute, coming up with two point-blank stops within seconds on Mark Herinirainy Ramarolahy on the right side of the area, to keep Staten Island frustrated and off the scoreboard.
The second half was just about all Rough Riders, who dominated and did not allow a shot.
Soto Gonzalez latched onto a through ball on the left flank, beat his marker and unleashed a hard, 10-yard shot to the upper left corner to double the hosts’ lead in the 52nd minute. It was Soto Gonzalez’s first tally of the season.
Oliver, a second-half substitute, also scored his first goal, tapping home Seller’s save of Nakai Antoine’s shot in the 62nd minute to boost LI to a three-goal advantage.
The Rough Riders hit the road to visit Ironbound SC at Harrison High School in Harrison, N.J. on Saturday, May 30 at 7:30 p.m.
They return home to host the Hudson Valley Hammers at Mitchel on Wednesday, June 3 at 7 p.m.
Follow the Rough Riders men’s and women’s teams at LIRoughRiders.com.