Written by Michael Lewis

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Bryson Hankins and Ryan Carmichael scored in the second half to lift the Long Island Rough Riders to a 2-0 win over the Westchester Flames in the USL League Two season opener for both teams at a rainy and misty Mitchel Athletic Complex on Saturday night.

Hankins snapped a scoreless draw in the 68th minute, firing a shot from distance on the right side that was mishandled by Westchester goalkeeper Maurice Koenig.

Carmichael, a key member of the Rough Riders squad that reached the USL League Two final last season, gave the hosts some much needed breathing room when he slammed a right-wing cross by halftime substitute Connor Langan from close range for a two-goal lead in the 82nd minute. Carmichael replaced Matt Whelan in the 64^th minute.

Goalkeeper Wessel Speel was solid in the net, recording the shutout.

Scoring opportunities were few and far between for both sides.

The Flames had the first two chances as one shot was cleared off the line and another attempt, by Cade Erickson, was parried away by Speel in the 25th minute.

Whelan’s shot from outside the box was saved by Koenig in the 32nd minute.

Two minutes into first-half stoppage time, Long Island thought it had put one on the scoreboard as Nick Dang headed in a Whelan right-wing cross, but Dang was ruled to be offside by the assistant referee.

Erickson tested Speel again in the 54th minute when he ripped a shot from the top of the box that was headed toward to the upper right corner. Speel, however, parried that blast away for another corner.

Koenig made another save in the 73^rd minute, as he knocked away Carmichael’s free kick.

The Rough Riders play at FA Euro New York on Wednesday, May 24 at 8:30 p.m. and at the Hudson Valley Hammers on Saturday, May 27 at 7 p.m. before returning home to welcome FC Motown STA on Wednesday, May 31 at 7:30 p.m.

In the first game of the doubleheader, the Riders women rolled to an 8-0 triumph over the Flames in a USL W League game.