Rochester 4:0 putting them for the first time at the top of the table, a position they would compete for against Vancouver for the rest of the season. The Islanders would finish the season with a 15–9–6 record clinching the first position and the Commissioner's Cup. On top of that they achieved this even with a crowded schedule that had them playing 4 games a week between the CCL and the USL-1 Regular season and the Playoffs. The Islanders would be seeded in the semifinals of the league's Playoffs where they would beat Rochester on an aggregate of 3:2 winning them a spot in the finals against Vancouver. In a controversial decision, the league awarded Vancouver the right to host the finals. After a 3–0 defeat against Santos Laguna in the CCL the club headed to Vancouver where after a hard fought game, the Islanders lost 2–1. The club would also sweep the USL-1 individual awards starting with Coach of the Year Colin Clarke, Defender of the Year (Cristian Arrieta), Goalkeeper of the Year (Bill Gaudette), and USL-1 MVP (Jonny Steele). The Islanders just coming off a successful 2008 season started preparations for 2009 early in February where they traveled to Florida for a group of friendlies against teams like New York Red Bulls, Chicago Fire and the 2008 MLS Champions Columbus Crew. The club in an attempt to repeat what was achieved the previous year brought back the bulk of the roster with the notable exception of Kenyan International Taiwo Atieno and Salvadorian Edwin Miranda. Also they signed manager Colin Clarke to a three-year contract as a way to bring continuity to the squad. Before the CCL's Quarterfinals Clarke, as a way to strengthen the squad brought in midfielder Martin Nuñez from the Carolina Railhawks, defender Kevon Villaroel from San Juan Jabloteh, and striker Sean Fraser from Miami FC. But most notably Jamaican striker Nicholas Addlery who had an immediate impact on the club scoring 5 goals in his first five games with the Islanders. The club would make it all the way to the semi-finals, where they lost to Cruz Azul of Mexico in penalty shots after the series was tied 3:3 in Estadio Azul, Mexico City on April 7. During this time they also acquired former Los Angeles Galaxy defender Kyle Veris, midfielder Domenic Mediate, who had just been released from D.C. United, and goalkeeper Chris McClellan