By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 17, 2023-In a rematch of last year’s championship game, New York Premier FC won this time, defeating the Massapequa Boltz, 2-1, in overtime on June 4 at Stringham Park in LaGrange to win the Jose Vargas Cup. Jose was a man of many hats (and many hats that had many feathers) who served as State Referee Administrator, State Youth Referee Administrator and State Director of Assessment as well as President of the East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL) and East Fishkill Soccer Club.
Lorenzo Galeano and Marco Goni scored New York Premier’s goals.
“We have not lost since last year’s final,” explained New York Premier coach Simon Baines. “It was a good game today. We get along well with Massapequa, a good group of people.”
Massapequa received the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award as determined by the game officials. Amoroso, a US Soccer Life Member who died seven years ago, 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, and in the process, made soccer games kinder and gentler.
New York Premier will represent the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) at Nationals from July 17 to 23 in Orlando as part of the National Championship Series.
The State Cup was presented by LifeVac, the choking rescue device that has saved over 900 lives and counting.
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/