New York Red Bulls II forward Jake Lacava signed his first professional contract with the club on July 3, 2020. Since then, he has made eight appearances for the club and has recorded three assists. One thing that was looming was his first professional goal, that came this past Saturday night against Loudoun United FC.
“The feeling of scoring my first professional goal was amazing. I’ve been working a lot on my finishing in practice and I’m happy it transferred over to the game,” Lacava said.
Not only did he score his first professional goal, but he bagged his first professional brace as well. “It was a great feeling to be able to contribute as much as I did, “Lacava said. “I felt a little disappointed however that I couldn’t top it off with a hat trick but happy nonetheless, especially with the team’s effort and ability to close out a crucial game.”
In his first professional season, Lacava now leads the club with the most points, which includes two goals and three assists. The New Milford, Connecticut native is coming off his best professional performance yet and is excited for what is ahead.
“I think my performances have been pretty good so far. I’m happy to be contributing to the team in a positive way,” Lacava said. “I think there’s a lot of room for improvement and with every game I learn and gain experience to be an even better player and perform better come the next game.”
With only seven games left in the season, every match is crucial to keep getting points to secure a spot in the USL Championship playoffs. “The team’s confidence was definitely boosted after getting a crucial win,” Lacava said. “We know we have a lot to do to finish the season strong but pulling ourselves out of a recent rough patch has provided us with a lot of confidence going forward and we’re looking forward to the upcoming challenges.
NYRB II will look to build upon their recent victory over Loudoun United FC, when they take on Group F leaders, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on Saturday, September 5, with kickoff set for 5 p.m. ET.
