USL LEAGUE TWO: Lionsbridge FC cruises past Charlotte on Louis’ hat trick; Western Mass blanks Long Island; Hudson Valley slips past Ocean City
- Dan Stickradt
- 2 minutes ago
- 3 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – After scoring four goals in his team’s last three games, Ricardo Louis took the opportunity to shine bright Tuesday night.
Louis netted his second hat trick in the last two weeks, leading Lionsbridge FC past Charlotte Independence II 4-1 in the USL League Two Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at Townebank Stadium.
After Damian Gallegos tied the game at 1-1 for Lionsbridge FC in the 16th minute, Louis stole the show with three second-half goals.
Louis sent home an Andrew Bennett cross in the 52nd minute.
Louis scored again in the 56th minute, this time an unassisted tally which later proved to be the game-winner.
Sam Delgado set up Lewis for his third goal of the evening, this one coming in the 80th minute to cap four straight goals by Lionsbridge FC after the side fell behind early.
Gabe Herrera scored in the third minute off a feed from Noah Louzan for the Charlotte Independence II (8-4-1).
Lionsbridge FC improved to 10-2-3 and will remain on the same field at Townebank Stadium on July 18 for its next game against Salem City SC at 7:30 p.m.
WESTERN MASS PIONEERS 2, LONG ISLAND ROUGH RIDERS 0: Making its sixth straight postseason appearance, the Pioneers figure they might as well stick around a while with the USL League Two’s second-best offense.
Two different players scored goals and Western, which has now outscored the opposition 48-9 and improved to 11-1-3 with the victory at Lustiano Stadium in Ludlow, Massachusetts.
Mamadi Jiana scored his third goal of the season and Santiago Blasio Gomez netted his second goal of the season to lead Western Mass.
The Pioneers will now play FC Motown STA at 4 p.m. July 18 at 4 p.m. at Burlington, Vermont’s Virtue Field.
Long Island Rough Riders wrap up the season with a 9-3-1 overall record.
HUDSON VALLEY HAMMERS 3, OCEAN CITY NOR’EASTERS 1: The visitor Hammers scored two early goals and never trailed in downing the host Nor’Easters in this USL League Two-Eastern Conference Quarterfinals match at Carey Stadium in Ocean City, New Jersey.
Kyle Evans scored in the eighth minute and Nicholas Zielonka added a goal in the ninth minute which was the eventual game-winner and staked Hudson Valley to a 2-0 advantage.
Rafa Kawata converted a penalty kick goal in the 31st minute which trimmed the deficit down to 2-1.
Evans scored again in the 88th minute to put the game away for Hudson Valley (8-2-3).
Hudson Valley Hammers will play host and second-ranked Vermont Green FC in the next round of the Eastern Conference playoffs on July 18 at 7:30 p.m. at Virtue Field in Burlington, Vermont.
Ocean City Nor’Easters finishes the season 7-3-3 with a 29-18 scoring edge.
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