Piscataway, N.J. – The Rough Riders came back in the second half to win 3-1 over NJ Copa FC in a hard fought battle at Sports Club Field at Rutgers in New Jersey Saturday evening.
The Rough Riders traveled to Piscataway looking to bounce back from a tough 6-3 loss against Morris Elite last week facing off against NJ Copa, who themselves are looking for their first point of the season. NJ Copa lost their two opening matches, losing 3-0 against Morris Elite and 6-2 against Cedar Stars.
After a back and forth opening 20 minutes, NJ Copa got on the board first thanks to a goal in the 29th minute from Hailey Santiago. Santiago got the ball deep on the left edge of the box, took a touch to beet the Long Island defender and beat Long Island keeper Samantha Graf far post to make it 1-0.
The Rough Riders had a few opportunities in the rest of the first half, but they went into the half still down 1-0.
A few minutes into the second half defender Olivia Pearse ripped a long pass from deep in her defensive half to a streaking Kayleigh Goodrich who received the pass in the attacking box and was tripped up by a NJ Copa defender forcing a penalty kick. Goodrich buried the penalty kick, tying the game up 1-1 in the 48th minute.
After the 60th minute, the Rough Riders made some changes attempting to break the tie, bringing in Julianne Arcoleo, Madison Abi Aoun, Briana Neary and Olivia Jungkunst.
After 75 minutes of play defender Mallory Anderson received a pass on an overlapping run, pushing the ball down the left wing. She crossed it into the box which found Goodrich whose shot found the back of the net, getting her fourth goal and first brace of the season, finally breaking the tie 2-1.
Fiona Kilian put the nail in the coffin with a goal in the 87th minute, volleying a corner kick giving the Rough Riders a 3-1 lead.
With the win, the Rough Riders improve to 2-1-0 and slot nominally into second place with six points and a 2-1-0 record, behind Morris Elite who are in first with nine points following their own win Saturday afternoon. NJ Copa remain win-less and point-less tied for last in the Metropolitan Division.
The women’s team have the final game of their four-game road trip traveling back to New Jersey to Tinton Falls where they face off against the Cedar Stars on Thursday, June 4 at 8:00 PM at Capelli Sportsplex.
Follow the Rough Riders women’s and men’s teams on www.LIRoughRiders.com.