LEESBURG — Lionsbridge FC exploded for a club-record 11 goals Wednesday night in an 11-2 thrashing of the Virginia Marauders at Segra Field in Leesburg, remaining unbeaten and atop the Chesapeake Division standings in USL League Two.
English forward Evan Howard made a dream debut for the Bridge, scoring a second-half hat trick after joining the team just last week. The Newcastle native netted in the 48th, 69th, and 74th minutes, quickly stamping his mark on the league’s most prolific attack.
Lionsbridge (5-0-2 overall, 4-0-2 league) improved to 14 points through six matches — the most in the division — with one game remaining in the first half of the season. The 11-goal outburst shattered the previous club record of eight, which had been matched just two weeks earlier.
Gabi Rodriguez opened the scoring in the 4th minute and added another just three minutes later. Lionsbridge struck five times in the first half alone, with goals from Lincoln Ulrich, Denis Krioutchenkov (twice), and Felix Ewald helping the visitors take a commanding 6-1 lead into halftime.
Krioutchenkov and Ewald each now have seven goals on the season, tied for the most in USL League Two.
Howard’s quick-fire second-half goals were followed by late finishes from Ricky Louis and Marcelo Lopes, with Louis scoring twice in the final six minutes. In total, eight Lionsbridge players recorded a goal or assist, including a pair of helpers from midfielder Josh Baker.
With 29 goals through six games, Lionsbridge leads all 140 teams in USL League Two in scoring.
Next up: a top-of-the-table showdown on the road against division newcomers Annapolis Blues (3-0-0) on Saturday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m. at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The winner of that match will be in the driver’s seat in the Chesapeake Division.
