 Unlike the year prior, the Rough Riders won their semi 5–2 against the Tampa Bay Cyclones, and then beat Minnesota Thunder 2–1 to win the USISL Championship.The Rough Riders lost several players to the nascent MLS in 1996, including Meola and Savarese, but went on to have a successful season nevertheless, finishing with an 11–7 record and winning the North Atlantic Division.They beat Delaware Wizards 2–0 in the second round of the playoffs, and qualified from a 'Select Six' tournament group, but lost 1–0 to the Richmond Kickers in the playoff semifinals.