STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Ranya Senhaji scored twice, on both sides of halftime, to lead Cedar Stars to a 4-1 win over the Long Island Rough Riders in USL W-League action at Kenneth LaValle Stadium on the campus of Stony Brook University on Wednesday night.
The Rough Riders (nine points) dropped to 3-3-0 while Cedar Stars (16) improved to 5-1-1 in the Metropolitan Division encounter.
Long Island took the game to the visitors in the opening 15 minutes, using the channel down the left wing to set up opportunities.
Only 90 seconds after the opening kickoff, Gabriella Marte made some nice moves past her marker and drove a left-wing cross that goalkeeper Ashley Moore snared.
Rough Riders forward Gianna Paul came close to putting the hosts on the board in the 12th minute as she headed the ball from point-blank range just wide right.
Cedar Stars, however, scored against the run of play in the 17th minute as Ranya Senhaji beat goalkeeper Nicolette Pasqurella, who had come out of the net, from the right side of the box for a 1-0 lead.
Just seconds after Pasqurella produced a vital save, the Rough Riders equalized. Olivia Pearse stole the ball at midfield and initiated the play by sending a pin-point feed to Paul. The University of Alabama striker beat her marker, Amelia Agrestion, on the right side before burying the ball at the near right post for her fifth goal of the season and a 1-1 deadlock in the 28th minute.
Cedar Stars retook the lead at 2-1 in the 41st minute as Clara Ford drilled a right-wing cross that floated over Pasqurella and into the upper left corner that closed out an entertaining first half.
The Rough Riders came so close to tying things up in the 55th minute, when Maggie Ledwith’s shot from the right side bounded off the crossbar.
The visitors increased their lead to 3-1 in the 64th minute, as Senhaji headed home a right-wing cross from Ford at the far post past keeper Natalie Medugno, who had replaced Pasqurella at halftime.
After Thalia Morisi forced Moore to parry away her dangerous shot, Danielle Howard tallied Cedar Stars’ fourth goal off a counterattack in the 77th minute.
The Rough Riders will visit Morris Elite FC on Saturday, June 14 at 7 p.m. before returning home to welcome NJ Copa FC at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, N.Y. on Wednesday, June 18 at 8 p.m. The June 18 match will be the second game of a doubleheader as the men will face NJ Copa FC at 6 p.m.
Follow the Rough Riders women’s and men’s teams on www.LIRoughRiders.com.