By Andrew Coen
Fans can still see them in action at their new stadium in New Hyde Park as the team¹s season hits the home stretch.
The Rough Riders, comprising both a men¹s and women¹s team, compete in the United Soccer Leagues, the largest organization of elite-level, semi-professional soccer leagues in North America, serving as a feeder program for players who aspire to compete in the top echelon of soccer. Many Rough Rider players have gone on to compete in Major League Soccer, the sport¹s highest level competition in the United States, among them goalie Tony Meola; Mineola native Carlos Mendes, a defenseman with Red Bull New York; and Edson Michael Buddle, a striker for the Los Angeles Galaxy.
The men¹s team competes in the USL Premier Development League with the Lady Riders playing in the USL W-League. League officials strive to provide quality soccer at an affordable price, with Rough Riders games costing $10 for adults and $8 for children.
Several Rough Rider players call the South Shore home, including Paul Roderick (North Bellmore); Mike Palacio (Long Beach); Yahaya Musa (Elmont); Jennifer Herman (Oceanside); Elizabeth Speck (Rockville Centre); Kathleen Starsia (Rockville Centre); Kathryn Nagy (Bellmore); Christina Gonzalez (Valley Stream); and former Hofstra University standout Penny Stansfield, who resides in North Bellmore.
The Rough Riders were formed in 1994 and until this season played their home games at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale. They now call Michael Tully Field in New Hyde Park their home, located at 1801 Evergreen Ave., just off the Northern State Parkway.
Both the Rough Riders and Lady Riders do their part to contribute to the Long Island community by running numerous youth soccer clinics throughout the year, with upcoming ones taking place July 9-12 at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, July 16-19 in Plainview and Aug. 6-9 at Mitchel Athletic Complex. The Rough Riders also sponsor a youth team called the Junior Rough Riders, which play in various age groups, and hosted its first ³Independence Cup² youth tournament at the Bethpage State Park Polo Grounds
on June 30.
The Rough Riders are 5-3-2 and in third place in the Premier Development League Northeast Division with home tilts against the Cape Cod Crusaders and the Ottawa Fury having taken place after press time. The Lady Riders are 2-4-2 and in fifth place with a home match against the Western Mass Pioneers having been played after press time, on June 30.
The Rough Riders have home games remaining against the Brooklyn Knights on July 6 at 8 p.m. and versus the Albany Admirals on July 18 with a 1 p.m. matinee kickoff. The Lady Riders also have two remaining home tilts, on July 18 against the Jersey Sky Blue at 11 a.m. and July 20 when they will battle the New Jersey Wildcats at 8 p.m. If either Rough Rider team qualifies for the playoffs, there¹s the possibility of some postseason home games as well in late July.
For further information about the Long Island Rough Riders, call (516) 622-8499 or log onto www.liroughriders.com.
