The Long Island Rough Riders continued their preparations for the upcoming USL League Two season with the addition of four players connected to North Carolina State University — including returning standout Justin McClean and newcomers Drew Lovelace, Nakai Antoine, and Thomas Lamaille.
NC State is coming off a Sweet 16 appearance in 2024 under Head Coach Marc Hubbard and once again look to be competing at the top echelon of college soccer come 2025. GM Tanner Sands mentioned, “There’s no doubt that when you bring in a group of players from one of the best teams in the country, who compete in the best conference in the country, the expectations are they will all be ready to make a difference and that’s what we expect from Justin, Drew, Thomas and Nakai. We’re excited to have all four.”
Justin McClean
A key returnee, McClean joined NC State after three standout seasons at Georgia State University. In 2024, Justin was named team MVP for the Rough Riders which showcased multiple MLS draft picks after leading the team with 7 goals and 1 assist. Justin was commonly featured in the USL 2 top player list.
Drew Lovelace
Lovelace brings physicality and attacking prowess to the squad. The 6-2 midfielder was once named North Carolina High School Player of the Year and contributed two goals and two assists in 2024 for NC State. He scored in key victories over Winthrop and nationally ranked Georgetown during the NCAA Tournament.
Nakai Antoine
A freshman at NC State last fall, Antoine did not see game time but arrives with a solid youth résumé. The Baldwin, N.Y. native played for B.W. Gottschee, one of the region’s top youth programs, and brings a strong physical presence at 6’1″ and 180 lbs.
The Rough Riders’ men’s team will kick off their 2025 USL League Two season against Ironbound FC on Sunday, May 18, at 6 p.m. at the Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, N.Y. This match is part of a doubleheader, with the Rough Riders women’s team playing against AC Connecticut at 3:30 p.m. Don’t miss the opportunity to see these new signings in action.
Season and single game tickets are now on sale and if you are looking to gain a closer relationship with any of these four players, you can join the ‘Sponsor a Player’ campaign which allows access to training from a player, a signed jersey and 10 tickets towards the upcoming season. These can be found HERE
Written by Michael Lewis