Omar Sowe struck twice within two minutes at the end of the first half. (Photo courtesy of Red Bulls II)

MONTCLAIR, N.J. – Forward Omar Sowe recorded a hat-trick to power Red Bulls II to a 6-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union II in USL Championship regular season action at Montclair State University Wednesday night.

The six goals were the most NYRBII has scored this season. The club had registered five goals once this season, also against Union II, in a 5-1 win July 22. It was the most goals NYRB II has scored in a match since July 13, 2019, when it defeated Atlanta United 2, 8-2.

Caden Clark struck twice in the second half and set up a third goal.

Goalkeeper Wallis Lapsley made two saves to earn his first and the team’s first, shutout this season.

Sowe, a Harrison, N.J. native, broke the match open with two goals just before the first half whistle. He tallied his first in the 45th minute off of an assist from RBNY Academy player Bo Cummins. Two minutes into stoppage time, defender Joe Fala fed Sowe.

In the second half, the hosts would score twice within two minutes. Dantouma Toure found the net unassisted in the 72nd minute before Sowe, off a Clark feed, competed his hat-trick in the 74th minute.

Then Clark took center stage in the waning minutes, scoring in the 82nd and 90th minutes.

Cummins, a current Red Bulls Academy player, was joined by Academy teammate Joseph Zalinsky, who got the start at center back. Academy forward Toure was subbed on at halftime.

The current academy players were joined in the Starting XI by academy alums John Tolkin, Chris Lema, Barry Sharifi, Joe LaCava, and Omar Sowe.

Red Bulls II plays Hartford Athletic Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 7 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.