By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 29, 2016-The appropriately-named Red Hook Heatwave of the East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL) blanked Manhattan Kickers FC 98 of the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL), 3-0, in hot weather on Saturday, June 18, giving Red Hook the Girls-Under-18 Eastern New York Premier League (ENYPL) title. This Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) championship game was played at the Peter Collins Soccer Park in Plainview.
Claire Doyal scored an Olimpico goal straight off a corner kick at the end of the first half while Isabelle LaBarbera netted Red Hook’s two other goals. Keepers Kyla Burns and Natalie Hutchins shared the shutout in goal for the new champs.
“Although Manhattan had the better possession, I thought a difference in the game was our finishing,” explained Red Hook coach Paul LaBarbera. “This is our first year as a Premier team and we’re really excited to win the championship!”
The ENYPL, the Gateway to Regional Play, is the oldest continuous Premier League in the United States and is 16 years old in 2016.
With over 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 11 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 teenagersbetween 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 turnedaway. 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/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.