By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 14, 2023-In a rematch of last year’s final, the FC Somers Lady Hammers again topped the Auburndale Strikers on June 3 at Stringham Park in LaGrange. This Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) championship match in the Girls-Under-15 State Open Cup was played for the Jack Bauman Cup. The cup’s namesake is considered the father of women’s soccer on Long Island as he was devoted to the Massapequa Soccer Club, Eastern New York and making sure that girls had as many opportunities to play soccer as boys did.
Liana Crawford, Marley Hawkins, Fiona Kelleher, Paige Pena and Lindsey Ulaj all scored goals as FC Somers won, 5-1.
“It was a very fast paced game and we had more patience in the final third,” stated FC Somers coach Milan Davidovic.
Auburndale received the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award as determined by the game officials. Amoroso, a US Soccer Life Member who died in 2016, started the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Sportsmanship Program in 1980 and it spread to Eastern New York, nationally and then to China and Ireland.
The State Cup was presented by LifeVac, the choking rescue device that has saved over 900 lives and counting.
FC Somers will represent Eastern New York at the East Regionals from June 23 to 29 in Loudoun County, Virginia as part of the National Championship Series.
With approximately 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 10 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer Association. For more information, please log onto http://www.enysoccer.com/