UNIONDALE, N.Y. – The Long Island Rough Riders women completed the regular season in style, clinching the Metropolitan Division crown and a spot in the USL W League playoffs on a hot and humid Sunday afternoon.

Olivia Pearce secured a brace, Fiona Killian, Mathilde Braithwaite and Isabella Calabro added solo scores and Salma Simonin assisted on two goals en route to a 5-0 triumph over Manhattan SC at Mitchel Athletic Complex.

The Rough Riders (7-3-0, 21 points), who moved past idle Paisley Athletic FC (6-3-1, 19) into first place, will await their postseason schedule. Manhattan (4) completed the campaign at 1-8-1 in its season finale.

Rough Riders goalkeeper Natalie Medugno registered a clean sheet as the team conceded only 10 goals in as many matches, the fewest in the eight-team division.

Manhattan was at a disadvantage from the opening kickoff as they started with 10 players and no reserves on the bench.

Long Island dominated early action, coming close when Simonin’s corner kick from the left side ricocheted off the far post in the eighth minute.

The hosts would be rewarded soon enough, as Natalie Demasi fed Kilian with a short pass and Kilian slotted the ball home at the far left post past keeper Katherine Cornet for a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute.

The Rough Riders never looked back.

Only four minutes later, they doubled their lead as Pearse volleyed home Simonin’s corner kick with her left foot from 15 yards.

Simonin continued her playmaking in the 20th minute, feeding Braithwaite from the left side as Braithwaite buried her shot from six yards for a 3-0 margin.

During stoppage time, Pearse connected for her second goal of the half, heading in Alyssa Abramson’s corner kick at the far-left post for a 4-0 halftime advantage.

When Manhattan did take a rare foray into the Long Island end, the defense quickly recovered the ball and started another attack.

At halftime, Long Island head coach Matt Lannon made five substitutions. 

Even with the sizeable lead, the Rough Riders did not hold back as they continued to push forward and take shots at the Manhattan net. That resulted in Goal No. 5 by Calabro in the 73rd minute.

Due to the heat and humidity, there was a hydration break in each half.

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Rough Riders men faced the Hudson Valley Hammers in a USL League Two contest.

Keep up with the Rough Riders’ latest news at www.LIRoughRiders.com.