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Rough Riders Overthrow Royals

April 23, 2005 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Long Island Rough Riders News Release


WASHINGTON, D.C.- The Long Island Rough Riders left the Northern Virginia Royals all wet in a 4-1 defeat in which the weather was more oppressive than the Royals' offense.

Dominating from the opening whistle, the overpowering Rough Riders offense opened the scoring with a goal from Paul Caffrey in the 43rd minute. The drive began with a pass from Wilmer Cabrera out of the back, resulting in a poetic series of passes that culminated in Caffrey making a run into the box to receive a pass from Derrick Ettiene and scoring on a shot from 16 yards out into the bottom corner.

Goals came down in the second half almost as heavy as the rain, which delayed play for nearly 60 minutes. The interruption to the proceedings had an effect similar to one of Coach Wiseman's Churchillian speeches.

The Rough Riders confirmed their 1st half superiority by opening up their second half account in the 55th minute. Shaun Higgins drove home from the edge of the 18 yard box with authority after latching on to a through pass from the impressive Alex Toben-Villa who side-stepped two Royals players.

James Hunt made a strong showing on his Rough Rider debut. Sensing the prey was vulnerable he took off down the line and crossed for Gary Sullivan it deflected to Hunt who pounced from inside the 18 yard box...66 minutes gone.

Caffrey continued to pad his stats assisting on the fourth goal by Sullivan, who made the most of his scoring opportunity. Sullivan caped his powerful Rough Riders debut with a bullet header into the top corner finishing a 20 yard cross from the left hand side.

Rough Rider Goalie Paul Grafer showed his MLS class, making nine saves and stopping one of the lone potential scoring opportunities of the game on a breakaway by the Royals in the 28th minute.

Yellow cards were awarded to Royals defensive midfielder Whitney Minnis and Caffrey in the first half. Reacting to a violent and reckless challenge by a Royals' player in the second half, Caffrey picked up a some what dubious second yellow card in the 85th minute.

The lone score for the Royals came in the 82nd minute off a strike from Elvis Mnyamuru on a counterattack. The Royals offense was held to 10 shots in the game, a continuation of the nonexistent offense displayed early in the season.

Captain Marvel Wilmer Cabrera who epitomized the class and intelligence of a well executed Wiseman plan was the only injury concern, being substituted in the second half due to a slight hamstring pull. He was replaced by Joshua Allen, moving Hunt to the center of the defense.

The match was originally set to be played at Trinity College, but was moved at the last minute to RFK Auxiliary Field due to poor weather conditions at the college.

Home opener 30th April against the New Hampshire Phantoms 7.30 pm Kick off at Mitchel Field, Uniondale.



United Soccer League Championship Stories from April 23, 2005


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