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Rough Riders Sign New Players

June 24, 2004 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Long Island Rough Riders News Release


(Plainview, N.Y., June 24, 2004) – The Long Island Rough Riders are proud to announce the signings of midfielders Jim Rooney and Carlo Espinosa.

Jim Rooney, a native Long Islander from Deer Park, has had a storybook soccer career. Having played for the Rough Riders from 1994-97, he won the National Championship with the side in 1995. He then went on to Major League Soccer, playing 116 games in total. Rooney was with the MetroStars in 1998 and 1999, wore the captain's arm band for the Miami Fusion in 2000 and 2001 and played for the New England Revolution in 2002. In his five year-long MLS career, the midfielder scored 21 goals and assisted in 22.

However he considers his biggest accomplishments raising his family and winning the National Championship with Long Island. "I've come back for one reason - help the Rough Riders win games. That's my only objective", Rooney said. Jim Rooney was born on September 9th, 1968.

Carlo Espinosa is another Long Island product. In 1999 Carlo was voted "Suffolk County Player of the Year", received "All-American Honors" and went on to play for the U.S. U-19 National Team later that year. At the age of 19 he signed his first professional contract oversees with Karlsruhe S.C. in the 2nd German Bundesliga. Espinosa was born on September 29th, 1981 in West Islip, N.Y., where he is now residing.

General Manager Jim Kilmeade commented the additions. "These two players will dramatically affect the level of the game. Carlo is a true outside midfielder with great speed and fitness. Jim was a dominant player in the mid-nineties for the Rough Riders and a natural-born leader that commands respect and 100% effort from his teammates."

The Long Island Rough Riders are one of the most successful soccer franchises in the United States. The Rough Riders are currently ranked 2nd in attendance in the PSL with an average of 2.049 fans per game. Capturing two National Championships in 1994 and 2002, they have launched the careers of some of the top players in America including Chris Armas, Tony Meola and Giovanni Savarese. In 2003, the Rough Riders organization was inducted into the United Soccer League "Hall of Fame" in recognition of their 10th year anniversary.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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