Coming into Saturday afternoon’s game, Loudoun United scored 1 goal and was still looking for their first win after 4 games. Facing a New York Red Bulls II side that was leading the East was not going to be easy, but a 16-man Loudoun side scored three unanswered goals for their inaugural win, a 3-1 triumph at MSU Soccer Park in New Jersey.

The game started as most would have predicted, as a Jared Stroud cross came into the middle and Mathias Jorgensen (on loan from the parent Red Bulls) flicked it past Calle Brown for a 4th minute 1-0 lead. Opposition goals tend to kickstart Loudoun’s attack and an 11th minute header from Kyle Murphy rang off the crossbar, depriving Loudoun of an equalizer.

They would get it moments later as Andrew Lubahn found Orlando Sinclair as the Costa Rica forward went past a falling Sean Nealis, firing a shot at Evan Louro and putting home his rebound for the tying goal, one day after his 21st birthday. Loudoun would find their go-ahead shortly after as a Loudoun corner was poorly cleared, and Lubahn fired the shot to Louro’s short side on the right for a 2-1 lead that they would take to halftime.

The second half found the Red Bulls starting fast, as Janos Loebe had a wide open look at goal, but D.C. United loanee Akeem Ward ran over in front of Brown for the block. Loebe would have a similar look at goal 15 minutes later but would shoot it wide. 10 minutes later, Ward would contribute on the offensive end with a looping cross into the box, finding Murphy’s head for the final goal.

Loudoun’s next game is with expansion side Birmingham Legion FC, next Saturday night at 8pm.