Darwin Espinal scored off  nice curling shot in the 48th minute. (Photo courtesy of the Cosmos)

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — Darwin Espinal connected twice in the second half as the Cosmos recorded their second consecutive preseason shutout Thursday within a week, blanking Queens College, 4-0, at rainy Hofstra Soccer Stadium.

In their opening preseason match, they had beaten Hofstra University, 4-0, on the same fielde March 15.

New York scored early in both halves.

Six minutes after the opening kickoff, midfielder Ricardo Bocanegra opened the scoring with a powerful shot from atop the left side of the penalty area after a nifty backpass from Junior Burgos. Bocanegra also found the net vs. Hofstra.

Barely three minutes into the second half, Espinal struck a curling shot past the Queens goalkeeper for a two-goal advantage. Espinal has three goals in two games.

Espinal’s second goal wasn’t as spectacular, but it counted just the same as he tapped home a shot in front of the Knights’ goal in the 87th minute.

Striker Bledi Bardic struck for his second goal in as many matches in the 88th minute.

The Cosmos will visit Adelphi University in Garden City, N.Y. for their third preseason game Tuesday at 8 p.m.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.