By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 11, 2023-Long Island SC shut out Stony Brook LGN Samurai Blue, 2-0, to receive the Howard Rubenstein Cup as Boys-Under-14 State Cup champs on June 3 at Stringham Park in LaGrange.
Now living in Kentucky, Rubenstein was seemingly involved in every facet of New York soccer for decades and is a member of the Halls of Fame of Eastern New York, the US Amateur Soccer Association and the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL).
“We played smart,” explained Long Island SC coach Tom Bowen. “We won the midfield battles and played a bit more direct than we usually do.”
Michael Price and Oracid Bencivenni scored Long Island’s goals and keeper Collin Schirmacher had the shutout in net.
Stony Brook LGN 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.
Long Island SC will represent the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) at the East Regionals from June 23 to 29 in Loudoun County, Virginia 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/