The Long Island Rough Riders will be represented by not one, not two, but by three former players on the New York Red Bulls in MLS Cup on Saturday, December 7th.
The Nealis brothers, Sean and Dylan, are expected to start against the LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park. Ryan Meara is the back-up goalkeeper.
Sean, 27, and Dylan, 26, have manned the center back positions during the Red Bulls’ amazing playoff run. The Red Bulls have allowed only two goals in four postseason matches while recording three clean sheets.
They have been the backbone of a backline that has made life frustrating and sometimes miserable for the defending champion Columbus Crew, New York City FC and Orlando City SC.
Both Nealis brothers grew up in Massapequa, New York. Sean played for the Rough Riders in 2016 where he played in all 12 games that season. His brother Dylan had two stints with the Rough Riders, the first in 2017 where he led the Rough Riders into the playoffs and again in 2019. Ryan Meara played with the Rough Riders back in 2009 after being a center piece for Fordham men’s soccer.
Former Massapequa High School boys soccer coach Keith Stanley, who coached Sean and Dylan and two older brothers, said that he recently spoke to the Red Bulls teammates.
“We’re just talking about the team peaking at the right time,” he said. “The team has come together. We’ve got to do everything we can, they were saying. And you can see that, and that’s what the team is doing. They’re never about themselves at all. They just feel like this is what you do to win. You do everything, you put every effort you can.”
Few, if any teams have had brothers playing together on defense.
“I think that’s a nice thing, having your brother next to you,” Stanley said. “I think there’s a real comfort level for both of them. It builds a little bit of confidence that they have each other’s back. Just super impressive. They’ve always been that way. You’re never going to see these guys back away from the challenge. Stuff can happen. They feel like the team is gelling at the right time. The guys are physically and mentally ready to take the next step.”
Then again, everything hasn’t always gone smoothly for the brothers.
“It’s pretty funny,” Red Bulls left back John Tolkin said on MLS media day on Thursday. “I think the other week, they were getting into it on the field, and they’re screaming at each other. It’s pretty funny to kind of sit back and just watch them interact with each other, but they’ll die for each other on the field. They have that kind of extra chemistry, if you will. They’ve grown up, and they’ve known each other for their whole lives. The Nealis brothers are amazing, and I love both of them. They’ve been so strong in this postseason.”
Written by Michael Lewis