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| Full name | Long Island Rough Riders | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Rough Riders | ||
| Founded | 1994; 31 years ago (1994) | ||
| Stadium | Hofstra University Soccer Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 1,600 | ||
| Owner | Peter Zaratin | ||
| Head Coach | Tom Bowen | ||
| League | USL League Two | ||
| 2024 | 1st, Metropolitan Division Playoffs: Conference Quarterfinals | ||
| Website | www | ||
TheLong Island Rough Riders are an Americansoccer team based inSouth Huntington, New York, United States. Founded in 1994, the team plays inUSL League Two, the fourth tier of theAmerican Soccer Pyramid.
The team plays its home games atHofstra University Soccer Stadium. The team's colors are white and blue.
The club also has a women's team, also called theLong Island Rough Riders, who play inUSL W League.
The Rough Riders played their first season in 1994, fielding a team in theUSISL that featured futureUS national team playerChris Armas, who would lead the team in scoring with eight goals and four assists.[1] Long Island (13–5) won the Northeast Division, finishing seven points ahead ofNorth Jersey Dragons. The Rough Riders were placed in the "Raleigh Group" of the USISL 'Sizzling Nine' Championships, and qualified along with theMinnesota Thunder to faceGreensboro Dynamo in the national semifinal; they lost the game 2–1 in overtime as Greensboro went on to take the title.
For their second season in 1995, the Rough Riders added several more players who would go on to excel inMajor League Soccer, including US national team goalkeeperTony Meola,Jim Rooney, andGiovanni Savarese, who would be named the USISL regular season and playoff MVP, and who scored 23 goals during the campaign. The Rough Riders finished the season with a 19–1 record, top of the Coastal Conference for a second year running, and received a bye to the 'Sizzling Nine' Championship tournament. Wins over theMonterey Bay Jaguars and theNew Mexico Chiles in group play took them to the national semifinal for a second time. Unlike the year prior, the Rough Riders won their semi 5–2 against theTampa Bay Cyclones, and then beatMinnesota Thunder 2–1 to win the USISL Championship.
The Rough Riders lost several players to the nascent MLS in 1996, including Meola and Savarese, but went on to have a successful season nevertheless, finishing with an 11–7 record and winning the North Atlantic Division. They beatDelaware Wizards 2–0 in the second round of the playoffs, and qualified from a 'Select Six' tournament group, but lost 1–0 to theRichmond Kickers in the playoff semifinals.
With the merger of the USISL and theAmerican Professional Soccer League in 1997, the Rough Riders decided to move up, and began their first season in theA-League in that year. They finished the regular season third in the Northeast Division behindMontreal Impact with a 13–10–5 record. Long Island beatRochester Raging Rhinos and the Impact in the playoffs, before losing theCarolina Dynamo in the semifinals. The Rough Riders also enjoyed a run to the quarterfinals of theUS Open Cup, beatingUSASA amateur teamBridgeport Italians in the second round, then upsettingMajor League Soccer sideNew England Revolution 4–3 before eventually falling to theNew York/New Jersey MetroStars 1–0 on agolden goal. DefenderTravis Rinker made the All A-League Team that year.
The Rough Riders finished fourth in the Northeast Division in 1998, and lost in the first round of the playoffs to theKickers. The following season was a similar story as the team finished third in the regular season, and were defeated in the first round of the playoffs by thePittsburgh Riverdogs. StrikersJohn Wolyniec andDarko Kolic were much more prolific, scoring 15 and seven goals, respectively.
Fortunes improved significantly in 2000, as the Rough Riders claimed their first regular-season title at this level, winning the Northeast Division by one point over theRochester Raging Rhinos with a 16–9–4 record. StrikerEdson Buddle scored 11 of the team's 54 goals, and goalkeeperPaul Grafer posting a 1.29 goals against average. Their title came thanks to nine bonus points earned for scoring three or more goals in a game. However, for a third straight season, playoff success eluded the Rough Riders, who lost 2–1 to theToronto Lynx in the conference quarterfinals.
The high of the first year of the new millennium was followed by a disappointing low in 2001 as the Rough Riders slumped to their first losing record in years (8–16–4), finishing sixth in the Northern Conference – 42 points behind divisional championsHershey Wildcats. Following the campaign, team ownership decided to voluntarily relegate the team to the D3 Pro League for 2002.
The Rough Riders bounced back magnificently in 2002, winning the D3-Pro League Atlantic Conference with a 13–6–1 record, six points clear ofNew York Freedom in second place.Derrick Etienne andCordt Weinstein combined for 27 goals, while goalkeeperBilly Gatti maintained an imposing presence in net. Long Island squeaked past New York on penalty kicks after a 2–2 tie in the playoff quarterfinals, and enjoyed a dominant 3–0 win over theConnecticut Wolves in the semifinal to reach the championship game. The final against Southern Conference championsWilmington Hammerheads was a tight game, but the Rough Riders emerged as 2–1 victors to take their second championship in franchise history.
The Rough Riders retained their divisional title in 2003, despite the league being re-aligned and renamed the Pro Select League. Long Island went 13–4–3, 13 points clear of theNew Jersey Stallions, their closest rival, and with Etienne again scoring 10 goals. The Rough Riders enjoyed some impressive victories in the regular season campaign, including a 3–0 victory on the road in May overWestchester Flames, a 4–1 road win overJersey Falcons in early July, and a pair of comprehensive wins overReading Rage, 5–1 and 4–1. The Rough Riders also made their second trip to theUS Open Cup, but lost 2–1 in the second round toUSL-PDL teamMid Michigan Bucks. Despite being favorites to progress through the playoffs, they were upset by the Stallions 5–4 on penalty kicks after a scoreless tie in the playoff regional final.
Long Island struggled in 2004, finishing last in the Atlantic Division with an 8–11–1 record. The season was, however, significant because it marked the return of two former Rough Riders –Jim Rooney from theNew England Revolution andGiovanni Savarese from overseas. Etienne was again Long Island's top scorer with 11 goals.
The USL Pro Soccer League became the USL Second Division in 2005, and reverted to a single-table format, consisting of nine teams all based on the East Coast. The season started in up-and-down fashion. An opening day 4–1 win over theNorthern Virginia Royals was followed by a win overNew Hampshire Phantoms, then two losses, two wins and then three losses. The team enjoyed a couple of comprehensive victories, notably a second 4–1 win overNorthern Virginia Royals in whichMoussa Sy scored all four goals, and a 5–2 hammering ofNew Hampshire Phantoms in early July. TheirUS Open Cup campaign ended early with a shocking 4–0 defeat toPDL sideOcean City Barons in the second round. The Rough Riders lost their final five games of the regular season, including a demoralizing 4–1 thrashing at home toWestern Mass Pioneers, and finished the season in sixth place with a 7–13–0 record, missing the playoffs for a second straight year. Etienne was Long Island's top scorer again (nine goals), whileWilmer Cabrera contributed five assists.
The next season was arguably the worst in team history, with the Rough Riders finishing at the bottom of the table with three wins and fifteen goals scored. The 2006 season was marred by a 13-game winless streak stretching from opening day through mid-July. Losses included: 5–0 toRichmond Kickers, 3–0 toHarrisburg City Islanders, and 3–0 toWilmington Hammerheads. Long Island's first victory was a scrappy 1–0 home win againstNew Hampshire Phantoms at home, on an 84th-minute strike fromMoussa Sy. The high point was a 3–2 seesaw win over Wilmington in the season finale. Following the campaign, the team chose to voluntarily relegate themselves to theUSL-PDL for the 2007 season.
The Rough Riders' first season in PDL began with four straight wins, including a 3–1 road win against theBrooklyn Knights. Their early season form took them to theUS Open Cup for the fourth time, but they exited the competition at the hands ofUSL First Division stalwartsRochester Raging Rhinos. Long Island's home form was their strong point, with five wins and a tie in front of their fans atMichael Tully Field. The Rough Riders' first season at this level ended with them fourth in the Northeast Division, nine points behind divisional champsCape Cod Crusaders, and just out of the playoffs.Mike Grella was top scorer with five goals, whileJose Batista contributed five assists.
Long Island was again a playoff contender in 2008. The Rough Riders tied their first game of the season 1–1 before demolishingVirginia Legacy 5–1, withMike Grella scoring a hat trick. The team was again successful at home, registering five wins and three ties atMichael Tully Field. They won an exciting 4–3 encounter with theWestchester Flames in early June, scored a 90th-minute equalizer through goalkeeperHasely Holder to tie 3–3 withNewark Ironbound Express, and flattenedNew Jersey Rangers 6–0, with Grella andAnthony Barberio scoring two goals each. The Rough Riders finished the season third in the Northeast Division, two points behindNewark Ironbound Express, and agonizingly out of the playoffs for the second consecutive year.Mike Grella andMichael Todd were the team's leading scorers, each scoring five goals. Todd andTadeu Terra tallied four assists apiece.
In 2009, the Rough Riders (12–2–2) finished in second place in the Northeast Division. Despite failing to qualify for the U.S. Open Cup, they clinched a spot in the divisional playoffs. The Rough Riders lost 2–0 to theOcean City Barons.
The Rough Riders ended the 2010 season in fourth place in the Mid Atlantic Division with an 8–4–3 record. They made their fifth U.S. Open Cup appearance and advanced to the second round for the first time since 1997 when they defeated theNew England Revolution ofMajor League Soccer. They opened up the first round against theNew York Pancyprian-Freedoms. Long Island took the lead in the first half asDanny Kramer scored off a cross fromBen Arikian. In the second half, the Rough Riders added another goal asAlex Grendi took a shot off a cross from Kramer and it found the back of the net. The Rough Riders were defeated by theHarrisburg City Islanders in the second round. In December, the team was invited by theBermuda Football Association to participate in its BFA Christmas 2010 tour, a holiday tournament for local and international clubs. The Rough Riders played against Bermuda's Under-20 World Cup National Team,The Dandy Town Hornets, and Bermuda's Premier Division League Champions.
Long Island (12–1–3) finished atop of the Eastern Conference Mid Atlantic Division in 2011 which solidified a spot in the postseason. In their first playoff appearance in two years, the Rough Riders defeated theNew Hampshire Phantoms 3–2 as Dominick Sarlee netted a hat trick in the USL Premier Developmental League's Eastern Conference Championships. The Rough Riders' postseason continued as they advanced to the PDL Eastern Conference Championship against Mid Atlantic Division rivalsJersey Express. MidfielderStephan Barea's winner in the 84th minute propelled the Rough Riders to the PDL Championship semifinal against theLaredo Heat, where they'd lose 4–1.
In 2012, the Rough Riders welcomed back captain Danny Kramer and former MLS player, Gary Flood. The team finished in fifth place with a record of 6–7–3. The Rough Riders lost 2–0 to second round toHarrisburg City Islanders in the second round of the U.S. Open Cup.
Long Island went 7–5–2 in 2013, finishing in third place in the division, failing to qualify for the postseason and U.S. Open Cup. Former Rough Riders playerJames Nealis was chosen in the 37th round in the MLS Draft by theHouston Dynamo.
The Rough Riders concluded the 2014 season with an 8–4–2 record. They finished in third place of the Mid Atlantic Division and were four points shy from solidifying a spot in the playoffs.
In 2015, the Rough Riders finished in second place in the Mid Atlantic Division at 9–4–1, advancing to the PDL playoffs for the first time since 2011. The semifinal match against theJersey Express remained scoreless until the 48th minute when Kramer's shot from inside the penalty box put the Rough Riders ahead. A minute later, the Express got on the scoreboard with the equalizer. The Express took the lead in the 52nd minute and provided another goal in the 76th minute en route to a 3–1 comeback win. Former Rough Riders playerTim Parker made hisMajor League Soccer playoff debut for theVancouver Whitecaps against thePortland Timbers in early November. Parker also earned his first call-up to the United States National Team training camp in January that included international friendlies versus Canada and Iceland.
The Rough Riders finish third in the Northeast Division with a record of 6–5–3 the next season.
In 2017, the Rough Riderswent 10–2–5 en route to the PDL Eastern Conference Final. Long Island, which finished runner-up in the Northeast Division, defeated Mid-Atlantic winners New York Red Bulls U-23 in an Eastern Conference play-in game. The Rough Riders beat the Myrtle Beach Mutiny, winners of the South Division, in the conference semifinals, before losing to eventual PDL champion Charlotte on penalty kicks in the Eastern Conference Final.
Former Rough Riders midfielder Stephen Roche wasnamed head coach on February 13, 2018. He guided Long Island to a10–5–1 overall record and 9–4–1 record in the PDL, finishing in third place. The offseason was highlighted by midfielderDanny Bedoya signing with New York City FC, Rough Riders' parent club, on August 9.
On April 21, 2016,New York City FC announced the Long Island Rough Riders would be their officialPremier Development League affiliate beginning with the 2016 season.[2]
The Long Island Rough Riders proposed an artificial turf soccer stadium on the campus of Suffolk County Community College Grant Campus inBrentwood. In an attempt to bring in a professional soccer team that would compete in theUSL League One.[3]
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This list comprises notable former players of the men's Long Island Rough Riders
Gary Ablett
Chris AloisiChris ArmasStephan Barea[4]
Edgar Bartolomeu
Nelson Becerra[5]Michael BehonickRhett Bernstein[6]Federico BianchiBobby Brennan †Mark BriggsEdson Buddle
Wilmer CabreraMatt ChulisJordan CilaSam Craven[7]Stephen DanbuskyÓscar Díaz *John Diffley *
Darrell EtienneFernando Fernandes
Flavio Ferri *Gary FloodKevin Garcia[8]Paul GraferMike GrellaAlex GrendiAndrew HermanBen HickeyShaun Higgins
Thorne Holder[9]Ernest Inneh *Steve JolleyIrasto Knights
Darko Kolić*Mickey Kydes*
Carlos Ledesma *Sal Leanti*Daniel LeonTom Lips
Gerry LuceyLuke Magill[10]Laurent Manuel
Richard Martinez
Saúl Martínez*Mike Masters
Anthony McCreath
Mick McDermott[11]Ryan Meara[12]Chris Megaloudis
Óscar Mejía*Tim MeliaTony Meola*Carlos Mendes*Andrew MittendorfDahir MohammedDanny MuellerMartin Munnelly*Jimmy Nealis[13]Conor O'Brien[14]
Mo Oduor*Mike PalacioLaurence PiturroDavid Price*Joseph RagusaRodney Rambo*David Reed[15]Paul RileyTravis Rinker*[16]Paul RobsonJim Rooney*
Giovanni Savarese*Jack Stefanowski[17]Gary Sullivan
Moussa SyTadeu Terra[18]Guillermo Valencia[19]Jesse Van Saun*Danny VitielloCordt Weinstein*[20]John Wolyniec *Hector Wright *Jeff Zaun*| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 3 | USISL | 1st, Northeast | Sizzling Nine | did not enter |
| 1995 | 3 | USISL Pro League | 1st, Coastal | Champion | did not qualify |
| 1996 | 3 | USISL Select League | 1st, North Atlantic | Semifinals | did not qualify |
| 1997 | 2 | USISL A-League | 3rd, Northeast | Division Finals | Quarterfinals |
| 1998 | 2 | USISL A-League | 4th, Northeast | Conference Quarterfinals | did not qualify |
| 1999 | 2 | USL A-League | 3rd, Northeast | Conference Quarterfinals | did not qualify |
| 2000 | 2 | USL A-League | 1st, Northeast | Conference Quarterfinals | did not qualify |
| 2001 | 2 | USL A-League | 6th, Northern | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2002 | 3 | USL D3-Pro League | 1st, Atlantic | Champion | did not qualify |
| 2003 | 3 | USL Pro Select League | 1st, Atlantic | Regional Finals | 2nd round |
| 2004 | 3 | USL Pro Soccer League | 3rd, Atlantic | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2005 | 3 | USL Second Division | 6th | did not qualify | 2nd round |
| 2006 | 3 | USL Second Division | 9th | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2007 | 4 | USL PDL | 4th, Northeast | did not qualify | 1st round |
| 2008 | 4 | USL PDL | 3rd, Northeast | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2009 | 4 | USL PDL | 2nd, Northeast | Divisional Semifinals | did not qualify |
| 2010 | 4 | USL PDL | 4th, Northeast | did not qualify | 2nd round |
| 2011 | 4 | USL PDL | 1st, Mid Atlantic | National Semifinals | did not qualify |
| 2012 | 4 | USL PDL | 5th, Mid Atlantic | did not qualify | 2nd round |
| 2013 | 4 | USL PDL | 3rd, Mid Atlantic | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2014 | 4 | USL PDL | 3rd, Mid Atlantic | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2015 | 4 | USL PDL | 2nd, Mid Atlantic | Divisional Playoff | 2nd round |
| 2016 | 4 | USL PDL | 3rd, Northeast | did not qualify | 1st round |
| 2017 | 4 | USL PDL | 2nd, Northeast | Conference Finals | did not qualify |
| 2018 | 4 | USL PDL | 3rd, Mid Atlantic | did not qualify | 2nd round |
| 2019 | 4 | USL League Two | 3rd, Mid Atlantic | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2020 | 4 | USL League Two | Season cancelled due toCOVID-19 pandemic | ||
| 2021 | 4 | USL League Two | 1st, Metropolitan | Conference Quarterfinals | did not qualify |
| 2022 | 4 | USL League Two | 2nd, Metropolitan | National Finals | did not qualify |
| 2023 | 4 | USL League Two | 1st, Metropolitan | Conference Quarterfinals | did not qualify |
| 2024 | 4 | USL League Two | 1st, Metropolitan | Conference Quarterfinals | did not qualify |
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Head Coach | Tom Bowen |
| Assistant Coach | Scott Leamey |
| Sporting Director | Stephen Roche |
Last updated: August 2018
Source:Long Island Rough Riders Official Website
Attendance stats are calculated by averaging each team's self-reported home attendances from the historical match archive athttps://web.archive.org/web/20100105175057/http://www.uslsoccer.com/history/index_E.html.%7B%7BOriginal
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