BURLINGTON, Vt. – The Long Island Rough Riders women dropped a 3-0 decision to Vermont Green FC in a USL W League Eastern Conference semifinal at Virtue Field on Friday night.

Emily Mara scored twice in the second half, and Louisa Thomsen added a late solo goal to lead the first-year team to victory.

Vermont (7-0-4) will play Eagle FC here for the conference title on Sunday. Eagle FC defeated Virginia Development Academy, 1-0, in the opening game of the doubleheader.

Goalkeeper Olivia Shippee also stood out for the Green, making several vital saves while the Rough Riders, the highest scoring team in the league (64 goals), were shut out for the first time this season.

Friday’s encounter pit a pair of teams with contrasting style. The Rough Riders preferred a much slower build-up, compared to Vermont’s more direct, long-ball game.

The opening 15 minutes saw the teams feeling each other out, as there were no serious goal-scoring opportunities for either side.

The teams went into the locker room with a scoreless tie, although Long Island started to assert itself with several shots from distance in the final five minutes of the half and stoppage time.

Rough Riders defender Olivia Jungkunst powered a shot that Shippee punched away in the 41st minute.

Three minutes later, midfielder Kayleigh Goodrich launched a shot from the same area that traveled just over the crossbar.

In stoppage time, Goodrich took another shot from just outside the area that Shippee punched away.

Rough Riders goalkeeper Mia Hennelly had a relatively quiet first half as the visitors were able to thwart any serious Vermont attacks.

After Goodrich sent another high shot from distance, Vermont took the lead in the 53rd minute. Thomsen set up her teammate with a nice run before Mara drilled her shot home for a 1-0 lead.

The Green came close to doubling its lead in the 67th minute, but Hennelly stopped Mara on the left side of the area.

Adding some fresh legs to the team for a spark, head coach Gerry Lucey brought in Tatianna Austin and Meyah Romeo on the hour.

The Rough Riders refused to give up.

Shippee punched Jungkunst’s free kick over the net in the 75th minute.

Two minutes later, Goodrich, off a perfect feed by Fiona Kilian, was denied by Shippee from close range.

Mara, however, proved difficult to stop, driving a shot from the top left of the box to give the Green a two-goal advantage in the 80th minute.

Thompson headed in a long free kick to close out the scoring in the 88th minute.

The Rough Riders, who captured the Metropolitan Division crown, finished the season with a 9-2-0 record.

The team will return to USL W League action next May.

You can keep following the action of all Rough Riders teams at www.LIRoughRiders.com.