Caden Clark saw red for NYRBII late in the first half. (Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports)

Red Bulls II could not put together its first winning strea(k of the season, dropping a 3-1 decision to the Charleston Battery at MSU Soccer Park on Montclair State University on Friday night.

NYRBII was forced to play slightly more than half the USL Championship match with 10 men after Caden Clark was awarded a straight red card in the 43rd minute for a foul. Clark, a member of the U.S. men’s Under-20 national team that qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics, is a regular member of the Red Bulls’ MLS squad.

The hosts dropped to an abysmal 3-18-3 and 12 points) while Charleston Battery (19) improved to 5-16-4.

Charleston broke the scoreless tie in the 32nd minute, as Augustine Williams converted a penalty kick.

The visitors doubled their lead in the 37th minute, with Aidan Apodaca converting an unassisted tally.

Apodaca delivered his second of the match in the 51st minute, as he knocked in a pass from Augustine Williams.

In second-half stoppage time, Zach Ryan collected a pass from John Murphy just outside of the box, turned, and sent in a shot for Red Bull II’s lone goal. It was Ryan’s first goal of the season for the host side. Murphy’s assist was his third of the campaign, moving him into a tie with O’Vonte Mullings for the team lead.

He has recorded an assist in each of New York’s last two matches.

Goalkeeper Giannis Nikopolidis recorded seven saves.

In the 84th minute, Hassan Ndam moved into fifth in club history for minutes played (regular and postseason), passing Jared Stroud (5,195).

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.