Newark, N.J. – After a dream start scoring six goals in a win over Manhattan SC, the Rough Riders give up six goals in their second game of the season in a tough 6-3 loss in pouring rain to Morris Elite at Frederick Douglass Field the season Saturday afternoon.

With the loss, the Rough Riders fall to 1-1-0 and with three points find themselves nominally in second place in the Metropolitan Division (four other teams in the division have yet to play two games). Morris Elite vault to first place with a 2-0-0 record and six points.

This match was an important one early in the calendar Morris Elite and the Rough Riders are the only clubs to have won the division since the inception of the USL W League in 2022. Morris Elite won the Metropolitan Division in 2022 and 2023, while the Rough Riders won it in 2024 and 2025. Morris Elite tied for second on the table last year in 2025.

The Rough Riders controlled much of the possession in the first ten minutes, spending most of the time with the ball in the attacking half. But the Morris Elite counter attack proved venomous, scoring three goals in the span of 11 minutes. In the 11th minute, Morris Elite’s Natalia Ramirez gained possession in her own box, dribbled to midfield, placed a long pass to Daisy Duda who received it just outside the box, who then quickly crossed it to a streaking Angelina Vargas who put the ball in the back of the net scoring the first goal of the game, 1-0.

In the 13th minute, Morris Elite gained possession off a Rough Riders throw in. Vargas passed to Alessia Cerrulo in the box who took a touch and then buried her first of three goals, 2-0.

In the 21st minute, the Rough Riders’ Olivia Pearse got dispossessed in her own defensive third. Amina Baruwa then passed it to Cerrulo who fired a shot and scored from 25 yards out making it 3-0.

The Rough Riders were undeterred though getting back two goals in rapid succession. In the 29th minute, Kayla Pardini stole the ball away in the attacking third, then passed to Lia Howard who banged one off the post and in, closing the lead 3-1.

Just a minute later, the Rough Riders got a free kick opportunity left of the penalty box. Lia Howard crossed the ball in to a cutting Pearse who scored, closing the gap to 3-2 in the 30th minute.

Both teams continued to get some scoring chances, but the score remained 3-2 going into half. Morris Elite made the only change at half, a goalie substitution in line with previous matches, putting in Addison Etter for Syrai Parker.

Michala Boex nearly scored in the 49th minute intercepting a pass from the Morris Elite keeper, but her shot from the six-yard box was kicked-saved away. The Rough Riders again nearly scored in the 52nd, intercepting a pass near the six-yard box. Luciana Setteducate took a shot that beat the keeper, but was miraculously saved off the line by the foot of Morris Elite defender Sara Groseibl.

In the 57th minute, Morris Elite’s Vargas received a long pass deep in their attacking third and took a shot just inside the box. Ava Voyonovich saved it, but Baruwa scored off the rebound, extending the lead to 4-2.

In the 62nd minute, Morris Elite’s Baruwa stole the ball in the attacking third. A combination of passes in the box from three Morris Elite players lead to Cerrulo blasting a shot and scoring from the top of the box, giving herself a hatrick, 5-2.

The Rough Riders weren’t done yet, though. A minute later, Howard crossed a ball in from the right endline and Kayleigh Goodrick volleyed the pass in for a score in the 63rd minute, 5-3.

They had a few other good chances to close the gap. Brianna Neary had a shot saved near post in the 65th minute. Goodrich had a free kick opportunity from 20 yards out which sailed over the crossbar.

But Morris Elite scored a back-breaking goal in the 72nd minute, Duda received a long pass in the attacking third Morris Elite, popped a pass to Baruwa who took a touch and then scored while being fouled in the box extending the lead again to 6-3.

The wild nine-goal game fizzled out in the final 15 minutes with neither team really having any more good scoring opportunities, with Morris Elite taking the win 6-3.

A tough loss for the Rough Riders, but the women’s team will be back next Satursday. They have their third of four straight away games to start the season at Sports Club Field at Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J., facing off against NJ Copa FC on Saturday, May 30 at 4:00 PM.

Follow the Rough Riders women’s and men’s teams on www.LIRoughRiders.com.