Ocean City looks to extend their league undefeated streak to 4 games in the return leg after a 2-2 draw away at Long Island back on May 18th.

Friday, June 6, 2014

Ocean City, NJ - The Long Island Rough Riders were founded in 1994 as a USISL franchise where they won conference and league championships in ’94, ’95, and ’96. They moved to the USL A-League and USL D3-Pro League before joining the PDL. They have won conference championships at every level, and were the USL D3-Pro League Champions in 2002. In 2011 the Rough Riders were the PDL Eastern Conference Champions. As a USL A-League franchise, Long Island beat the NY/NJ Metrostars (now NY Redbulls) in a 1997 friendly, and upended the New England Revolution later that same year in the US Open Cup, before losing to the Metrostars in sudden death in the quarterfinals.

Ocean City leads this all-time matchup 7-6-4. The two teams first met in 2001 with the Rough Riders beating the Ocean City Barons 3-1. In 2005, both sides battled in the US Open Cup, resulting in a 4-0 Ocean City victory. Long Island has several professional alumni who went on to play for Major League Soccer and USMNT sides including Chris Armas, Tony Meola, Jim Rooney, and Giovanni Savarese. Stephen Barea went on to play for the Puerto Rican National Team, Kevin Garcia played for IFK Lulea of Swedish Division One Norra, and was selected by the New England Revolution in the MLS draft, Daniel Gwyther played for the English clubs Barnet FC, and Watford FC., and Marco Jorgensen played professionally for the Danish team Hvidovre IF.

The Nor’easters will look to improve on their dramatic, 2-2 draw at Long Island on May 18th when they host the Rough Riders on Saturday evening. After a 1-0 Rough Rider’s halftime lead, Ocean City’s Aaron Dennis tallied for the Nor’easters in the 58^th minute of that game to tie it at 1, but Long Island would take the lead minutes later off of a free kick blast by Jack McVey. It took a miraculous, 89^th minute goal from Ocean City’s Ben Maurey to salvage the draw for the Nor’easters, an effort that led to Maurey’s honorable mention recognition for the PDL’s Team of the Week. Long Island brings a 2-1-1 PDL record into Ocean City.

Players to watch for the Rough Riders are defender Daniel Gwyther (5), midfielders Jack McVey (8) and Stephen Roche (23), and forward Keith Detelj (14).