When the Charleston Battery played the Rough Riders, there was more to the game than the division title for both teams.
These two teams might face each other in the playoffs, if they continue to win the rest of their games. This time, the Riders got the best of the Battery, winning the game 4-0. Coming into the game, both teams were in second place in their conferences, just points out of first place. Both teams are involved in the closet divisional race in the A-League, as well as being two of the hottest teams of late.
If their was one worry for the Riders, it was playing two games in less than a week. Not being one of the youngest teams in the league, this could have been disastrous to their shot at a division title. "This game was great, it helped us get back into it," said Paul Riley head coach of the Rough Riders.
The Riders certainly got back into the swing of things. It took Cordt Weinstein and Irasto Knight just 25 minutes to hook up and give Long Island an early 1-0 lead. Knight scored his eight goal of the season, to go with Weinstein's fourth assist of the season.
Three minutes before the half, Edson Buddle won a ball from the Battery's defense and dazzled the crowd with a combination of moves that dizzied the defenders. Buddle saw some space and beat a screened Dusty Hudock. Long Island took an 2-0 lead into the lockeroom at halftime.
Joe Ragusa scored his first goal of the season off a great pass from Jerry Lucey in the 55th minute of play. This was the seventh bonus point the Riders have received this season for scoring three or more goals in a game.
Buddle capped off the scoring for the evening, scoring his seventh gaol of the season and second of the game a few minutes later. The Rough Riders Ironman, Paul Grafer, notched his seventh shutout of the season. The Rider defense managed to hold Paul Conway(14G, 7A) and the Battery to just five shots on goal.
"We have experienced players and it helps. Gary is a big help in the back. We just needed to find the right lineup," said Lucey, the team leader in points(8G, 6A).
Nothing helps more than experience, and the Riders have plenty of that now!
