Rough Riders Close Out Regular Season on the Road

Official Press Release (Long Island Rough Riders)

Men have outside shot at division crown

Plainview, NY (July 17, 2009) – The Long Island Rough Riders men’s and women’s team will take to the road on Sunday and play their final matches of the regular season. The women will end their season with a visit to the Washington Freedom, while the men travel to New Hampshire before hosting a PDL first-round playoff game sometime next week.

Looking to end their season on a two-game winning streak, the Rough Riders women (6-6-1, 19 pts.) face a Freedom (10-1-1, 31 pts.) team who are looking for a Northeast Division title with two games remaining. Led by W-League Team of the Week member Kelly McConnell, who has five points in the past two games, the Rough Riders are looking to finish the season above the .500 mark.

Heading into their match-up with the Phantoms (3-8-3, 12 pts.) on Sunday afternoon, the Rough Riders men (11-2-2, 35 pts.) know that with a win and a loss by the Ottawa Fury, they will clinch the Northeast Division title. Should Ottawa beat or tie the Brooklyn Knights on Sunday, then the Rough Riders will settle for second place and face the Ocean City Baron in a mid-week match, with the winner heading to Ottawa next weekend for a chance to qualify for the PDL Final Four.

“We’re not in control of our destiny, so all we can do now is just focus on getting the points from New Hampshire,” said Rough Riders head coach Dan Fisher.

The Rough Riders were 1-0 victors thanks to Adam Himeno’s 40th minute goal when the two teams last met on Opening Day back on May 9.

The Rough Riders men’s team will be hosting a first round PDL playoff match some time next week at Cy Donnelly Stadium at St. Anthony’s High School in South Huntington. The date and an opponent are still to be determined and fans are encouraged to keep checking www.liroughriders.com for the latest information on how to purchase tickets.