The Long Island Rough Riders men’s team has had an exceptional showing this season, with a dozen players making waves at the collegiate level. From dominating performances in conference play to earning top honors and NCAA Tournament spots, these Rough Riders have been turning heads across the nation.
The Rough Riders qualified for the USL League Two playoffs after winning the Metropolitan Division with a 9-1-2 record.
Roc Carles, Hofstra University
The midfielder has captained the Pride (10-4-2) to a No.7 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The 5-foot-8, 145-lb. Mataro, Spain native has scored 2 goals and added four assists, having found the net in a 4-1 win at American University on Aug. 25. Roc has led Hofstra to another conference Championship, his fourth in his tenure.
Kieran Chandler, University of Connecticut
The Simsbury, Conn. native and defender has been a big reason the Huskies have conceded only 11 goals in 16 contests this season. The 5-foot-9 backline player registered a pair of assists in a 3-0 win at Villanova University on Oct. 4. He had four assists.
Eryk Dymora, Monmouth University
He has conceded only eight goals in 15 matches for Monmouth University in the Coastal Athletic Association, adding eight clean sheets in the process. In October, the 6-foot-2 Dymora recorded four consecutive shutouts, frustrating the University of Delaware (2-0 on Oct. 25), College of William and Mary (1-0 Oct. 12), the University of Pennsylvania (1-0 on Oct. 15) and Elon University (1-0 on Oct. 26). The Clifton, N.J. resident made a season-high seven saves vs. William & Mary while facing 17 shots. Monmouth (8-2-5, 4-1-3), ranked 16th in the United Soccer Coaches most recent poll, finished conference play with one loss for the second straight consecutive and the 11th time in program history. The Mountaineers will compete in the CAA tournament in November. Dymora was recently named CAA Goalkeeper of the year. He was one of 5 goalkeepers named in the TopDrawerSoccer Men’s National top 100 player rankings
Ethan Dekel Daks, West Virginia University
One of the key offensive performers on the Rough Riders, Daks, has found the net once this season for West Virginia University. He scored his lone goal in a 1-0 win at Old Dominion University on Sept. 21. Before transferring from the University of South Carolina, the 5-9, 157-lb. Daks earned Sun Belt Conference first team honors last year.
Daniel D’Ippolito, Fordham University
Whether he has been scoring a goal or setting up a teammate for one, D’Ippolito has been devastating opponents this season for the Rams. He has tallied 10 goals and added six assists. The Baldwin Place, N.Y. native has played a role in 16 of Fordham’s 30 goals this season. The 5-foot-11, 170-lb. junior midfielder’s most impressive performance was a hat-trick in a 4-0 win over Santa Clara on Sept. 5. D’Ippolito led Fordham to the NCAA Tournament, while also being named #49 in the TopDrawerSoccer. Daniel helped Fordham reach its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2017.
Eoin Farrell, Hofstra University
The midfielder and Ireland native has tallied four goals this season for the #7 seed. He tallied his first goal in a 3-2 win over Binghamton University on Sept. 2, added his second in a 3-0 victory vs. UNCW on Sept. 14 and added No. 3 in a 3-0 triumph at Loyola Maryland on Sept. 24. The 5-11, 180-lb. Farrell’s most recent tally was in a 5-4 defeat at Drexel University on Oct. 5.
Pau Ferrer, Gannon University
A junior defender who hails from Valencia, Spain, Ferrer has proven to be a lethal presence on both sides of the ball. The 5-foot-9, 162-lb, backline standout has helped the team concede only 12 goals in 15 matches. He has set up teammates for goals on seven occasions. He accrued two assists in a 7-0 win over Lock Haven on Oct. 5. Pau won PSAC defender of the year and was all conference first team.
Jakob Friedman, Monmouth University
A resident of Nesconset, N.Y., Friedman has played this season for Monmouth University that it is better to give than to receive. He assisted on seven goals. He started the campaign with a two-assist performance in a 4-0 season-opening win over Fairfield University on Aug. 23. The 5-8 forward played his high school soccer on Long Island at St. Anthony’s.
Pierce Infuso, Hofstra University
A defender who was named was named the Coastal Athletic Conference preseason player of the year, Infsuo has anchored the defense that has allowed only 19 goals in 16 matches this campaign. The Merrick, N.Y. resident, who is playing in his fifth year as a graduate student, has recorded 5 assists this season. He made First team All-conference in the CAA.
Justin McLean, Georgia State University
After starting out the fall season with four consecutive scoreless contests, the 20-year-old McLean has recorded five goals in his last nine games. He wrote his name on the scoresheet for the first time in a 1-0 victory over USC Upstate on Sept. 13 and added a brace in a 2-0 triumph at Wofford four days later. His most important goal was in a 3-3 home tie against Marshall University on Oct. 27. The 6-foot, 170-lb. midfielder also has recorded one assist.
Nigel Prince, Northwestern University
An All-Big Ten selection in 2023, Prince has been a vital piece of a defensive unit that has allowed 18 goals in 16 matches. He also contributed on the other side of the ball, scoring twice. The 6-foot-2 Prince tallied the lone goal in a 1-0 victory over Marquette University on Sept. 9. He added another goal in a 2-1 win at Rutgers University on Oct. 11. He was a 2024 Second Team All – Big Ten and #44 in the TopDrawerSoccer men’s national top 100 player rankings.
Jacob Woznicki, Hofstra University
A graduate student who is playing at forward, Woznicki has been one of the key players for the Pride this Coastal Athletic Association campaign. The Bristol, Conn. native has scored eight goals and added four assists, recording at least one point in 10 games. The 6-foot, 175-lb, Woznicki’s most memorable game to date with a two-goal effort in a 2-0 win over Providence College on Aug. 27. His most recent goal was scored in a 3-1 loss to the College of Charleston on Oct. 26. Woznicki has been named first team CAA.