Written by Michael Lewis
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – Another big win and another clean sheet for the Long Island Rough Riders.
The women’s recorded their sixth consecutive win since the start of the USL W League season and fourth shutout behind a 4-0 victory over the Westchester Flames at Skidelsky Field in City Park on Saturday night.
The Rough Riders (6-0-0, 18 points), who moved into the Metropolitan Division lead, have outscored their foes, 40-2 this season. The fifth-place Flames (4) dropped to 1-4-1.
Luciana Setteducate bagged a brace, scoring on either side of halftime. Sydney Moore and Hailey Moschitta added second-half goals.
Head coach Matt Lannon made several significant changes to the Long Island lineup and it paid off.
Only 10 minutes after the opening kickoff, Setteducate tallied her first goal, off an assist by Alyse Then. Then had to leave the game due to an illness as she was replaced by Ashley Lander as the visitors entered halftime with a one-goal lead.
In the second half, Lannon brought on Hailey Moschitta, Riley Miller and Alexa Meinen for Nora Basile, Maggie Ledwith and Myla Mcleod, giving the squad some fresh legs.
Moore connected off a corner kick in the 72nd minute, giving the Rough Riders some breathing room, while shifting the game’s momentum.
Minutes later, Setteducate scored her second goal, burying a rebound off the crossbar. In the 75th minute, the attack-minded substitutes combined on Moschitta’s goal for a 4-0 margin.
Ava Neilsen and Emily Mendel came on late in the match, giving the Rough Riders a defensive mindset to register the shutout.
The Rough Riders will try to make it seven consecutive wins as they visit Paisley Athletic at Kearny High School in Kearny, N.J. on Monday at 7:30 p.m.
After playing at Morris Elite at Drew University on Saturday, June 15, the Rough Riders will close out the regular season with four straight home games at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, N.Y. They will welcome Paisley Athletic on Wednesday, June 19, Morris Elite on Sunday, June 23, AC Connecticut on Wednesday June 26, and Cedar Stars Academy on Sunday, June 30.