UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Forwards Robert Lovelace struck for his first two goals of the season within a five-minute span in the second half and Jack Stainrod scored in his eighth consecutive game to lead the Long Island Rough Riders men to a 4-0 victory over New Jersey Copa FC in a USL League Two match at Mitchel Athletic Complex on Wednesday night.
The win boosted the Rough Riders (6-1-1, 19 points) back into first place in the Metropolitan Division over idle FC Motown STA (5-0-1, 16) NJ Copa FC (7) dropped to 2-4-1.
Goalkeepers Ethan Wood and Alex Bobocea, who came on in the 79th minute, combined for the clean sheet.
Dominating from the opening kickoff in possession and chances, the Rough Riders grabbed a deserved two-goal halftime advantage on a pair of set pieces 10 minutes part
Midfielder Kyle Smith started the scoring parade in the 14th minute as he headed home Jakob Friedman’s corner kick at the near right post past goalkeeper Andreas Kokoska.
Stainrod doubled the lead in the 24th minute, converting a penalty kick after Kokoska knocked down Lovelace in the box. Kokoska guessed correctly diving to his left, but Stainrod’s kick was too hard to stop as it nestled into the lower right corner. Stainrod, who entered the contest tied with San Juan SC’s Sean Battistessa for the league lead in goals, recorded his ninth of the campaign.
Still hungry for more goals, Lovelace tried to beat Kokoska from close range in the 39th minute, but the keeper punched the ball away with both hands.
Wood had a relatively quiet first half. He parried away Gustav Moberg’s shot from just outside the box for a corner kick in the 27th minute.
Lovelace eventually did score, his first of the season, connecting off a Justin McLean feed at the top left of box in the 56th minute for a three-goal margin.
It didn’t take long for Lovelace to celebrate his second tally, as he struck off a quick counterattack, rounding Kokoska enough to roll the ball into the net in the 61st minute en route to a 4-0 lead.
The sizable lead allowed head coach Chris Megaloudis to clear his bench in the second half and give several reserve players some valuable playing time.
In the second game of the doubleheader at Mitchel, the Rough Riders women took on their NJ Copa counterparts.
After an 11-dday break, the Rough Riders men will return to action on Sunday, June 29, hosting the Hudson Valley Hammers in their final at Mitchel Athletic Complex on Sunday, June 29 at 6 p.m.
Keep visiting www.LIRoughRiders.com for the latest news on both teams and the club.