By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
August 5, 2021-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that Brianna Carroll is receiving a
Patricia Louise Masotto and Brenda Driscoll Scholarship
.
The scholarship’s namesakes,
Patricia Louise Masotto and Brenda Driscoll,
were best friends and top women’s soccer players from Massapequa, Long Island and Eastern New York set up a scholarship in their name after they were killed by a drunk driver in 1985.
The award is based on success in high school as well as community service.
Brianna played for the Longwood Herricanes. The team won Eastern New York’s Arch Challenge Cup in 2016 and ’17 plus the Long Island Junior Soccer League’s Long Island Cup in 2017 and ’18. She also played on the varsity soccer team at Longwood High School for the past three years.
The East Yaphank resident wrote in her essay, “Throughout my soccer career, the Longwood Youth Sports Association and the Longwood Herricanes have had a huge impact on my life. I have a learning disability. Only my parents, my teachers and my teammates know. Having a learning disability does not define me. We are all different in our own unique way. I will be continuing my academic and athletic career at the collegiate level, Western New England University. It has always been my dream to get a great education while playing the sport I love. I would not be able to do that without soccer and the support of my parents, teammates and coaches.
Soccer has been my life for 14 years. I started playing for Longwood when I was five years old. My mother signed me up for soccer because she played and loved it. She thought playing would help my confidence. Once I stepped out onto the field, there was no looking back for me. I love the sport. Soccer has had a tremendous impact on my life. The field is the one place where my disability does not affect me. I am on an 'even playing field’ with everyone. I still train hard like everyone else, but nobody has an advantage over me. Soccer is an escape from the pressure I put on myself to achieve academically.”
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 on to http://www.enysoccer.com/