The Long Island Rough Riders women’s team shored up its defense as it signed Seaford, N.Y. native and Hofstra University graduate Olivia Pearse for the USL W League season.
Pearse competed in five seasons for the Pride, scoring 11 goals and assisting on two others while making 54 starts over 78 matches.
Her greatest contributions, however, came on the backline.
As a graduate student in 2025, the 5-foot-8 Pearse found the net a career-high four times. In fact, two of her scores were game-winners, including one in a 3-2 win at Stony Brook University on Oct. 26 that clinched a Coastal Athletic Conference tournament berth.
Her performance was so good and versatile that Pearse was named to the All-CAA second team. Pearse also was named CAA player of the week twice, as the top offensive player on Aug. 18, and sharing the defensive honors on Oct. 27.
How many players can say that?
In school, Pearse wasn’t only a top athlete, but she was a scholar as well. She was named to the CAA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll and the Hofstra Athletic Director Scholars Academic Honor Roll in Fall 2024 and Spring 2025.
Pearse hails from a soccer-playing family.
She played four years on the Seaford High School varsity, earning All-Nassau County honors, among other awards. Pearse also helped Seaford to the Conference A-IV crown. As a youth player, she is competing in the Olympic Development Program, performing for the team in France.
Both of her siblings played soccer, sister Danielle at Central Connecticut State, and brother Ryan at Long Island University.
The Rough Riders women’s team will kick off their W League season in May. Season Tickets are available here.
*Pending League and Federation Approval