UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Midfielder Londell Wheeler struck for a brace, and Justin McLean and Jacob Friedman added goals, leading the Long Island Rough Riders men to a 4-2 victory over the Hudson Valley Hammers in a USL League Two match at Mitchel Athletic Complex on a hot and humid Sunday evening.
The win strengthened the Rough Riders’ (7-1-1, 22 points) drive for a playoff berth as they remained in second place in the Metropolitan Division behind FC Motown STA (7-0-1, 22) on goal differential (plus 15 to plus 12) after their home regular-season finale. FC Motown also was in action on Sunday, but had a latter kickoff at home, against Ironbound SC.
After back-and-forth play in the opening 20 minutes, the Rough Riders solved the Hudson Valley defense in the 24th minute. Wheeler took a long pass from the right wing, settled it and fired a shot into the upper right corner past goalkeeper Tomas Hut.
The lead, however, did not last very long as the visitors countered only two minutes later. Francis Bonsu stripped a Long Island defender of the ball deep in the attacking third, went in 1 v 1 on keeper Ethan Wood and leveled the score at 1-1.
Five minutes after a hydration break, McLean, the team captain, boosted the Rough Riders back into the lead in the 37th, drilling a line drive from the top left of the penalty area into the upper right corner for a 2-1 edge.
The Hammers came close to leveling the match again in the 45th minute. Sebastian Rojek danced through a couple of players on the left side and fired a dangerous-looking shot that just missed the far post.
Then it was the Rough Riders’ opportunity on a close encounter as Robert Lovelace sent a shot over the crossbar in stoppage time.
The Rough Riders got some breathing room in the 52nd minute when an onrushing right back Friedman ran onto the ball. After passing to a teammate and getting a return pass, Friedman smashed the ball past Hut for a 3-1 lead. Friedman was so elated about scoring that he ran to the corner flag and punched the air in celebration.
Hudson Valley, however, wouldn’t go quietly into the night as a right back of its own was part of a scoring sequence. Joseph Dipreta sent a long diagonal ball from the right side to a racing Nicholas Zielonka, who powered a 15-yard shot past Wood, cutting the difference to 3-2.
Wheeler struck for his second goal in the 65th minute. Tyler Morck intercepted a pass at midfield. He noticed his open teammate and sent a cross-field pass that Wheeler ran onto and beat Hut from eight yards out on the right side, restoring the hosts’ two-goal advantage at 4-2.
The Rough Riders held off the Hammers the rest of the way.
In the first game of the doubleheader, the Rough Riders women recorded a 5-0 victory over Manhattan SC in USL W League action.
The Rough Riders men will finish their regular season with three consecutive road matches.
Long Island will visit the Staten Island Athletic Club at Wagner College on Staten Island on Wednesday, July 2 at 7 p.m., the Hudson Valley Hammers at Mt. St. Mary’s College in Newburgh, N.Y. on Wednesday, July 9 at 7 p.m.and then the Westchester Flames in New Rochelle, N.Y. on Saturday, July 12 at 8 p.m.
Keep up with the Rough Riders’ latest news at www.LIRoughRiders.com.