PLAINVIEW, NY (February 3, 2009) – The Long Island Rough Riders have a new home. Cy Donnelly Stadium located at Saint Anthony’s High School in South Huntington will be the location for the Rough Riders men’s and women’s home games in 2009.
Last season, the Rough Riders played three games at Cy Donnelly Stadium, including the 1-0 playoff victory over the Boston Breakers which sent the Rough Riders women’s team to the Eastern Conference semifinals in Atlanta.
The Rough Riders spent the past two seasons playing at Michael J. Tully Park in New Hyde Park. “We enjoyed the three games at St. Anthony’s High School last summer and we’re really looking forward to bringing our entire youth and senior team program there in 2009,” said Rough Riders General Manager Flavio Ferri. “The new state-of-the-art field house at St. Anthony’s High School will allow for year-round training and enable the Rough Riders to continue producing top-level soccer players on Long Island.”
Along with being the new home of the Rough Riders men’s and women’s teams, St. Anthony’s High School will also be the training location for the Junior Rough Riders program, which features over 400 premier youth soccer players between the ages of 8 and 17.
"St. Anthony’s High School is proud to be the new home of the Rough Riders for the 2009 season. The players will enjoy training and playing in our new facilities," said St. Anthony’s Director of Development Don Corrao.
Tickets for all home games are on sale through the Rough Riders Online store at www.liroughriders.com, or by phone at (516) 622-TIXX (8499). Team and group ticket packages are also available.
For more information on the Rough Riders men’s and women’s teams, please visit www.liroughriders.com or call (516) 622-3900.
About the Long Island Rough Riders
The Long Island Rough Riders have been part of the Long Island soccer scene since their inception in 1994. The Rough Riders men and women’s team won their first National Championship in 1995. The Rough Riders men’s team featured former US National Team members Chris Armas, Tony Meola, and MLS star Giovanni Savarese. Since their initial success, the Rough Riders men’s team has gone on to win the United Soccer League (USL) 2nd Division National Championship in 2002 and has sent numerous players to Major League Soccer (MLS).
In 2007 the Rough Riders reacquired a W-League franchise, which was formerly known as the Lady Riders. The Rough Riders women’s team qualified for the Eastern Conference Finals in 2008.
In recent years, the Rough Riders organization has expanded to include the Junior Rough Riders program, featuring elite level players from 8 to 17 years of age. Junior Rough Riders teams from 13 to 17 years old participate in the Super Y-League (SYL), the youth component of the USL.
About Saint Anthony’s High School
When Saint Anthony’s High School opened its doors in 1933, it brought to Long Island an 800-year-old Franciscan tradition of excellence in education. Founded on the Franciscan principle, “Capture the heart and the mind will follow,” this Roman Catholic college preparatory school encourages young men and women to nurture their moral, intellectual, aesthetic and physical faculties in an atmosphere of faith, respect and encouragement.
Saint Anthony’s High School is chartered by the State of New York and is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, located at 275 Wolf Hill Road in South Huntington.
