Written by Michael Lewis

Even with a successful team such as the Long Island Rough Riders, you cannot have enough depth or fresh legs.

Which is a big reason why men’s head coach Tom Bowen is stocking up his roster with some new and exciting talent for the upcoming USL League Two season.

The Riders have announced the additions of four players to their roster – defenders Nick Dang and Connor Langan, midfielder Kian Yari and forward Michael Suski.

Bowen snared two standouts from Missouri State University – Langan and Yari.

A native of Petersfield, England, Langan made 69 starts over 80 appearances during his five-year career at MSU. He contributed six assists.

The 24-year-old was a key member of the Bears’ backline that registered a 0.57 goals-against average, which finished third in the nation among NCAA Division I schools while securing 10 clean sheets.

Langan, who captured All-Missouri Valley Conference first team honors in 2021 and second team accolades in 2020-21, also enjoyed an impressive stint in the classroom as a biology major, making the athletic director’s Honor Roll four times.

In England, Langan played four years at Southampton FC Academy, averaging 20 or more starts a season, usually performing at right back.

Yari enjoyed a star-studded career at MSU, which included a United Soccer Coaches a third team All-American selection in 2021 and several regional honors.

The 5-6, 135-lb. Yari is coming off his finest season as a Bear, after collecting four goals and assisting on five others in 2022. He accrued seven goals and 18 assists in 48 starts and 66 appearances during his four years.

The Manchester, England native also has excelled in the classroom as an economics major, earning a dozen academic honors, including a third team CoSIDA Academic All-American accolade in 2021.

After enjoying a starring role for Boston College from 2019-2021, the 5-10, 179-lb. Suski helped Syracuse University to its first Division I soccer championship last fall. He scored two goals and added one assist in 2022.

Suski led BC in scoring during the 2020-21 and 2021 season, connecting for 13 goas and nine assists.

At Loomis Chaffee High School, Suski was named the Connecticut Gatorade player of the year twice (2017 and 2018) and was voted 2018 Prep player of the year. The Avon, Conn. native tallied 82 goals and added 44 assists during his high school career en route to earning USA TODAY All-American first team honors.

He also was a member of FSC FC United, which captured a youth national championship in 2018.

Dang, a redshirt freshman, scored one goal in 18 appearances with Lipscomb University in 2022.

A native of Brentwood, Tenn., Dang was one of the top players in his state. He was captain of his Ravenwood High School team, in which he was the team MVP in 2019 and 2021, was a member of the 2021 Tennessee All-State soccer team and captured All-District accolades in 2019 and 2021.

A three-sport standout at Ravenwood, the 6-2, 180-lb. Dang also played basketball and ran cross country.

The Rough Riders, who reached the League Two final last year, kick off their 2023 campaign at home against the Westchester Flames at the Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, N.Y. on Saturday, May 20 at 8 p.m. It will be the nightcap of a doubleheader as the Rough Riders women will start their USL W League season against the Flames at 5:30 p.m.