Captain McCabe leads way with three points

(Plainview, N.Y.) - The day after a strong 2-0 win against the Western Mass Lady Pioneers, the Rough Riders women (2-1-1, 7 pts) capped off an undefeated weekend with a convincing 4-1 victory against the Connecticut Passion (0-1-1, 1 pt.).

Captain Kerri McCabe was prominent on the scoresheet, factoring in three of the four goals on the afternoon scoring two goals and adding an assist.

Early on, the Rough Riders didn’t waste time grabbing the lead as just five minute into the match Brooke DeRosa scored her first goal of the season. Newly added Mollie Dreska assisted on the opening goal.

In the 20th minute, it was DeRosa netting her second goal of the afternoon and receving a well played long-ball into the penalty box from McCabe.

Eleven minutes later, McCabe scored her first goal of the year, thanks in part to poor defending from Connecticut.  McCabe’s corner kick went directly into the net to extend the Rough Riders lead to three.

Ten minutes into the second half, the Rough Riders took a commanding 4-0 lead when Vaila Barsley hammered home a McCabe corner kick for her first tally of the season.

Connecticut would take advantage of a lapse in the Rough Riders defense in the 59th minute and cut the lead to three, but Long Island would hold on for a 4-1 victory, their second win of the season.

“I’m very happy with the way the team is coming together,” said Rough Riders head coach John Fitzgerald after the victory. “We gave a good all-around, two-way effort today and I’m eager to see us continue to progress.”

“Every match we’re playing cleaner and cleaner soccer.”

The Rough Riders men and women will return home for their third doubleheader of the season on Saturday, May 30th. The games begin at 5PM when the women host the Washington Freedom and continue at 7:30PM as the men take on the Rhode Island Stingrays. Tickets are available and can be purchased by calling the Rough Riders at (516) 622-3900 or at the ticket booth at Cy Donnelly Stadium. Adult tickets are $10, Youth 16 and under are $8, and groups of 12 or more are $6 each. One ticket is good for both games.

To see the 2009 Rough Riders men’s and women’s team schedules and stats, please visit www.liroughriders.com or call (516) 622-3900.