MILLERSVILLE, PA (September 7, 2016) – New York Red Bulls II defeated Harrisburg City Islanders on the road, 4-1, to clinch the United Soccer League Regular Season Championship. Vincent Bezecourt and Red Bulls Academy player Noah Powder both scored twice in the victory.
As USL Regular Season Champions, New York has clinched home-field advantage throughout the 2016 USL Playoffs.
The win improves New York to 19-3-5 on the season, their seventh consecutive victory. The second-year club is the first MLS-operated team to capture the USL Regular Season Title and has done so in record fashion with three games remaining in the regular season.
Red Bulls II’s 12-1-1 road record is three more than the league’s previous record, while the club’s 19 total wins and 62 points ties the league record set by Orlando City SC in 2014.
New York is also approaching the league’s single-season scoring record with 54 goals, which trails Orlando’s 2014 record of 56 goals. Through 27 games, the club’s 15 clean sheets is just two shy of tying Rochester Rhinos’ 2015 league record of 17 shutouts.
New York took the lead in the 23rd minute of the match when Stefano Bonomo played in Bezecourt on the right side of the box, who calmly slotted away his chance at the back post.
Despite allowing a goal in the first minute of the second half, Red Bulls II rebounded quickly. Second-half stubstitute Powder restored New York’s lead in the 62nd minute with his first professional goal, assisted by Bezecourt.
Bezecourt doubled the lead in the 73rd minute, taking a pass from Florian Valot and curling a shot with his right foot for his fourth goal of the season. The Frenchman has scored all four of his goals this season against Harrisburg.
Finally, Powder solidified the lead with a left-footed rocket from outside the box that found the top-left corner of the goal to give New York the 4-1 victory.
Red Bulls II hits the road this weekend to take on last year’s USL Regular Season Champions, Rochester Rhinos, on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 5:05 p.m. NYRB II next returns home on Saturday, Sept. 17 against FC Montreal for their final home game of the regular season before the USL Playoffs. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Scoring Summary (Assist in parenthesis):
NY: Vincent Bezecourt (Stefano Bonomo) 23’
HAR: Cardel Benbow (Craig Foster) 46’
NY: Noah Powder (Vincent Bezecourt) 62’
NY: Vincent Bezecourt (Florian Valot) 73’
NY: Noah Powder 78’
Discipline Summary:
NY: Vincent Bezecourt, Caution 34’
NY: Speedy Williams, Caution 45’
Lineup:
NY: Kyle Reynish, Justin Bilyeu, Tim Schmoll, Zach Carroll, Konrad Plewa (Noah Powder, 58’), Speedy Williams (David Najem, 46’), Tyler Adams (Dan Metzger, 34’), Vincent Bezecourt, Derrick Etienne Jr. (Florian Valot, 64’), Stefano Bonomo, Zoumana Simpara (Aaron Long, 72’)
