PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The main sponsor on the front of the Kingston Stockade FC kit is a bus company. And a terrific one at that, in Trailways.
It's at least somewhat fitting for a soccer team to have a bus sponsor, as there's a very famous phrase in world football called "parking the bus," which is when a team decides to play defensively in order to try to limit the opposition's scoring opportunities.
That said, parking the bus certainly isn't the Stockade way of late. In fact, given the way Kingston has been playing lately, it's safe to say that their bus isn't stationary, but rather screaming down the highway as if piloted by Sandra Bullock in "Speed".
On Sunday, Stockade headed north to Providence in their plush Trailways bus for a match with conference rivals Rhode Island Reds. Fresh on the heels of an impressive 4-1 home win over New York Athletic Club at home on Saturday, Stockade set out with aims of nothing less than another vital win on the road.
And the boys delivered, with an impressive 5-0 away victory.
The back-to-back wins means this is the second time this season that first-year Stockade coach David Lindholm has impressively led the team to a maximum point haul of six points in a weekend (three points are awarded for each win) during the most congested parts of the schedule.
This red-hot Stockade side now has a 4-1-1 record on the year (wins-draws-losses). They've also scored 18 goals in six matches.
In short, the club's Trailways bus isn't just in high gear right now. It's darting about with such panache that it's showing itself to be worthy of a bit part in a Vin Diesel movie.
To no one's surprise, the scoring began early on Sunday, as scoresheet regular Michael Creswick scored in the 8th minute. Eric Fortier played Creswick wide into space during a 2-on-1 and the ruthless English forward converted.
Fortier himself then made it 2-0 in the 13th minute with a lovely, powerful volley.
Matt Koziol then gave Stockade a 3-0 lead going into halftime with a successful header in the 45th minute. The holding midfielder has shown an extremely impressive aerial ability all season, so it shouldn't come as a huge surprise that he'd eventually convert in such fashion.
Pedro Espindola then scored in the 54th minute on a 1-on-1 breakaway with the Rhode Island goalkeeper. Espindola was played through via a lovely floated ball by Matel Anasta.
Joe Bogart then completed the scoring in the 88th minute after a give-and-go at the top of the 18 with Scott Zobre.
All told, Stockade netted five goals on the day. And nine goals in two matches. Or nine goals in 180 minutes.
A goal every 20 minutes, roughly.
It's not quite "Gone in 60 Seconds", but it's a rate of conversion that any soccer team on the planet would find acceptable.
Thankfully, this greedy gang of goal-getters just happens to reside in the Hudson Valley. Catch 'em while you can.
Stockade's next match is on Saturday, June 10 at 5 p.m. at Dietz Stadium against first-place Boston City FC.
Man of the Match: Eric Fortier
Stockade Starting XI: Skonieczny; Anasta, Gatti, Lis-Simmons (C), Curtis; Koziol, Kloster, Maley; Espindola, Creswick, Fortier
By Randy Kim, Kingston Stockade FC GM