Written by Michael Lewis

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Alex Vegoda, Lia Howard and Bella Sember scored goals, lifting the Long Island Rough Riders to a 3-1 victory over Cedar Stars and back into first place in the Metropolitan Division in a USL W League match at Mitchel Athletic Complex on Monday afternoon.

After dropping their first loss of the season at Morris Elite SC on Saturday, 5-1, the Rough Riders (7-1-0, 21 points) returned to their winning ways as they enjoy a two-point lead over their New Jersey rivals (6-1-1, 19). Cedar Stars (19) dropped to 6-2-1.

The game was a rescheduled match from June 7, when smoke from the Canadian widefires made outside activities on Long Island unplayable and dangerous.

Just prior to halftime, the Rough Riders grabbed a 1-0 lead on a spectacular goal by Vegoda.

Vegoda, who replaced Sofia Benegas in the 22nd minute, sent the ball from the left edge of the penalty area over the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Katie Bisgrove at the near post in the 44th minute.

The opening 45 minutes was a tight one as both sides had chances to break the ice.

Sember had a pair of close encounters, having her right-wing shot saved by Bisgrove for a corner kick in the 18th minute and slamming a shot off the right post seven minutes later.

Rough Riders goalkeeper Natalie Medugno was called on to make several saves. Her most notable came when she tipped away Riley Mullin’s 19th-minute attempt and denied Gabrielle Koluch in the 38th minute.

The hosts added an insurance tally off a counterattack off the counterattack in the 64th minute. Leah Iglesias, who came on for Nicole Gordon only four minutes prior, led the charge down the right wing and was patient to hold onto the ball long enough to find Howard. With Bisgrove out of the net, Howard had an easy time scoring her team-high ninth goal of this campaign.

Only a minute after just missing to the left of the net, Sember scored her seventh goal of the season, from the top of the box for a three-goal margin in the 84th minute.

Cedar Stars pulled a goal back in the 88th minute.

Long Island will return to action on Wednesday, hosting AC Connecticut (1-5-1, 4) at Mitchel at 7 p.m.

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Rough Riders men welcomed their Cedar Stars counterparts in a USL League Two match.