SEASON - 1994

The Rough Riders came into existence in 1994 and joined the United Soccer Leagues as part of the USISL.  They ended their inaugural season with a 15-5 record, and made it as far as the semifinals of the championship playoffs, before losing 2-1.

 

SEASON - 1995 

In the team’s second year, future national team goalkeeper Tony Meola, Jim Rooney, and Giovanni Savarese helped the Rough Riders finish the season with a 20-2 record.  Savarese would later be named the USISL regular season and playoff MVP.

The season started with a 2-1 loss against the Charleston Battery. The Rough Riders battled back to beat the Myrtle Beach Boys 4-1 and Rhode Island Stingrays 1-0. In their home opener, the Rough Riders won a 5-0 game against the Albany Alleycats.  From then on, the wins kept on coming as the team ended up closing their home schedule 11-0 for the season, including an exhibition game against the U.S. Olympic team where the Rough Riders had a 3-0 victory.

In the round of 16 game against the Monterey Bay Jaguars, the Rough Riders pulled a 2-1 victory.  The Rough Riders won their quarterfinal match against the New Mexico Chiles 4-1, and headed into the finals after beating the Tampa Bay Cyclones 5-2 in the semis.  In the final game against the Minnesota Thunder, things were looking to go into extra time as a minute remained and the score remained tied at 1-1.  With 6 seconds left in regulation, Savarese scored the winning goal.  Led by coach Alfonso Mondelo, the team won its first USISL championship.

 

SEASON - 1996

After losing several players due to the creation of the MLS, the Rough Riders still had a successful 16-7 season.  The Rough Riders were in the USISL Select League and ended the season 1st in the Atlantic Division.  They made it through to the semifinals of the playoffs where they lost to the Richmond Kickers. 

 

SEASON - 1997

The 1997 season began with the merger of the USISL and the APSL, where the Rough Riders decided to move up into the A-League.  The team did well, ending the 16-12 season 2nd in the division, and making it into the Division Finals of the Playoffs and the Quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup.
In July’s “Grapple for the Apple,” the Rough Riders played against their cross-river rivals and MLS affiliate, the NY/NJ Metrostars at Hofstra.  Although a friendly match, the Rough Riders took the game seriously, and came out to beat the Metros 2-1.  During the summer’s U.S. Open Cup, the Rough Riders beat the Bridgeport Italians with a score of 1-0, and eventually triumphed over a 3-1 deficit to beat the New England Revolution in the U.S. Open Cup round of 16 with a score of 4-3.  The Rough Riders ended their U.S. Open Cup play in the quarterfinals against the MetroStars; after battling 90 minutes in regulation with a scoreless tie, the Rough Riders lost in sudden death overtime 1-0.
 
 
SEASON - 1998

Under leadership of new coach Paul Riley, the Rough Riders ended their 1998 season with a 17-11 record.  They finished 4th place in the Northeast Division and made it to the Conference Quarterfinals of the playoffs.

 

SEASON - 1999

In 1999, the Rough Riders had an 18-9 season. They finished 3rd in the Northeast Division, and made it to the Conference Quarterfinals of the playoffs.

SEASON - 2000

The 2000 season ended with the Rough Riders having a 16-9 record.  They finished top of the Northeast Division, and made it to the Conference Quarterfinals of the playoffs before losing to the .  In the annual “Grapple for the Apple IV,” the Rough Riders lost a 2-0 lead against the MetroStars for final score of 4-2.

 

SEASON - 2001

The Rough Riders ended the 2001 season in 6th place of the Northern Division and last place of the A-League.

 

SEASON - 2002 

In 2002, the Rough Riders moved down to the Second Division USL D-3 Pro League, ending the season in 1st place of the Atlantic Division and eventually becoming the D-3 Pro League National Champions.  After the losing season that the Rough Riders had in 2001 and losing 5-0 against archrivals New York Freedoms on June 15, 2002, winning was not expected.  However things turned around after a 5-1 victory over the Connecticut Wolves on July 17 and the Rough Riders moved into second place.  Things continued to go their way as the Rough Riders took the Atlantic Conference lead after a 3-2 win over the New Jersey Stallions.  In an encore game against the Stallions two days later, the Rough Riders clinched the conference title and playoff home-field advantage with a 4-1 win.

In the quarterfinal match against the Freedoms, the Rough Riders held a 2-2 tie after 120 minutes, finally winning 4-3 in penalty kicks.  The Rough Riders played their semifinal game against the Wolves shorthanded, but still came out with an amazing 3-0 victory.  In the championship game against the Hammerheads, the Rough Riders held a 1-1 tie until the 82nd minute, when Derrick Etienne scored the winning goal.

 

 

SEASON - 2003

In 2003, the Rough Riders moved to the USL Pro Select League, ending the season 1st in the Atlantic Division.  The team made its way to the Regional Finals, losing to the New Jersey Stallions on penalty kicks. The Rough Riders also 2nd Round of the U.S. Open Cup, losing to the Mid Michigan Bucks 2-1.

 

SEASON - 2004

The 2004 season marked the return of two former Rough Riders; Jim Rooney from the New England Revolution and MLS star Giovanni Savarese, who had been playing overseas.  The team had a tough 8-11-1 season, finishing 3rd in the Atlantic Division, and failing to make both the playoffs and U.S. Open Cup.

 

SEASON - 2005

 

In 2005, the Rough Riders moved up to the USL 2nd Division, finishing tied for 6th in their Division and making it to the 2nd round of the U.S. Open Cup, losing 4-0 to the Ocean City Barons.

During their annual convention, the USL honored the Rough Riders franchise as the team celebrated it’s tenth season as a part of the USL.

 

SEASON - 2006

The Rough Riders had a rough season in 2006, finishing the year last in the division with just three wins and fifteen goals. This would be the last season that the Rough Riders played at the professional level within the USL.

 

SEASON - 2007

The Rough Riders men decided to drop a division and begin play in the USL Premier Developmental League under head coach Dan Fisher. They ended the season 4th in the Northeast Division and made it to the 1st round of the U.S. Open Cup, losing 1-0 to USL-1 side, Rochester Rhinos.

 

This season also saw the Rough Riders acquired the rights to a W-League franchise, formerly known as the Lady Riders. The team is now known as the Rough Riders women’s team.

 

 

 

SEASON - 2008

A season after re-joining the W-League, the Rough Riders women’s team finished second in the Northeast Division. Hosting a first-round playoff game against the Boston Renegades, the Rough Riders women advanced to the

 

Eastern Conference Final Four after a 1-0 victory. In the Conference semifinals, the women were defeated by the Atlanta Silverbacks 1-0.

The Rough Riders men finished two points out of a playoff spot in the Northeast Division. The off-season saw Mike Grella (Toronto) and Alex Grendi (Columbus) selected in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. In January, Grella decided to sign with storied English club Leeds United (League One). Former Rough Riders defender Paul Robson was also given a trial at Crystal Palace of the Coca-Cola Championship (England).