By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 11, 2022-Met Oval Academy 2009 Girls shut out the South Shore Legacy, 1-0, on June 4 at Stringham Park in LaGrange to win the Girls-Under-13 State Open Cup.
“South Shore battles every time we play them. One of the best organized teams that brings out the best in us,” commented Met Oval Academy coach Jerome Barberio. “Our girls were a little bit stronger.”
Maya Harrison scored the game’s only goal and goalkeeper Sammy Lapidus had the shutout in net.
Met Oval Academy will represent the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) at the East Regionals from June 24 to 30 in Charleston and Barboursville, West Virginia as part of the National Championship Series.
Met Oval Academy also received the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award as determined by the game officials. The namesake of the award, who died in 2016, was inducted into the Halls of Fame of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) and Eastern New York plus was honored as a Life Member by U.S. Soccer. Amoroso started the LIJSL Sportsmanship Program in 1980, it has since been copied around the world and he spoke about the benefits of Fair Play across the United States.
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 nine 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/