Back row, left to right: Coach Dave Phaff, Sophia Campites, Ashley Harrop, Olivia Oakley, Alexandra Brauer, Brielle Zink, Brooke Harrop, Grace Lien, Coach Mike Timo
Front row, left to right: Dakota Dieumegard, Evangeline Perdomo, Sarah Dukofsky, Kristen Tarasenko, Paige Oakley, Tori Timo, Kayla Lave, Mallory Anderson, Rhianna Waring
Camera shy: Hannah McNally
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
July 14, 2023-Middle Country SBMC won four games and tied one at Regionals in late June in Loudoun County, Virginia, outscoring their opponents 22 to 4 to win the Girls-Under-18 Regional championship. Under the leadership of Dave Phaff, the 2021 Eastern New York TOPSoccer Coach of the Year, Middle Country will be representing the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) at the Nationals from July 17 to 23 in Orlando as part of the National Championship Series.
”I would say the girls’ preparation with proper rest and nutrition before games, a strong work ethic and conditioning plays a huge factor in their success. They have a strong desire to be successful and they’re a motivated group,” coach Mike Timo explained. “Dave does an outstanding job putting girls in positions that highlight and play to their individual strengths, while collectively still playing a cohesive team game.”
The SBMC in the team name is an acronym for the two separate teams that came together to form this special group of girls. “SB” pays homage to the former SB Athletico Two-sion 2006 girls team and the “MC” is for the former Middle Country Bandits 2005 girls team.
Timo stated, “Middle Country Soccer Club and the SB Athletico Soccer Club, founded by Rob Draper, have always had a great relationship, both on and off the field. When we combined, we did not want any of the girls to feel ‘like they were joining the others’ team.’ We really wanted this to be a fresh start with everyone starting on a level playing field so SBMC was born.”
He continued, “This team started on a whim during a phone call between Dave and I only 19 months ago. It was December and we were both talking about going into the Spring 2022 season with our teams. Both of us had a small roster and were dealing with the usual commitment issues as kids get older. They get learner permits and a taste for driving, they start getting jobs, and soccer sometimes takes a back seat to other interests. So we started to combine some of our players during winter indoor training sessions in January 2022. We knew there was something special about this group once they started coming together. The soccer part was easy but once the initial shyness disappeared, these girls bonded and became like family towards each other. New friendships between players and parents alike will undoubtedly carry on for years to come. Once they finally got onto the field, they started this list of firsts for Middle Country and haven’t looked back. Neither Dave nor I would’ve ever predicted the run of success that these girls have had, yet refuse to be shocked by it because they all put in the work and are team first players. We couldn’t be more proud of how they have represented themselves and our club.”
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/