By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 9, 2013-The Arch Capital Group Cup produces many great memories every year. One particularly nice moment occurred on May 12 as the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) competition reached the quarterfinals.
The Girls-Under-14 South Huntington Strikers of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) travelled to Wilton to face the Saratoga Wilton White Lightning of the Capital District Youth Soccer League (CDYSL) at Gavin Park. After a 1-1 tie through regulation and overtime, South Huntington won in a shootout to advance to the semifinals.
"After the game, the two teams ate pizza together and posed for photos," said Saratoga Wilton Soccer Club President Bob Turner. "If South Huntington had some more time before heading home, the squads probably would have picked teams and played another game. It was a nice moment to remind us all that the beautiful game is all about."
"The people from the Saratoga Wilton Soccer Club were the nicest people in the world," commented South Huntington coach Eric Wuss. "They ordered pizza for lunch and we ate with them after a game filled with sportsmanship."
South Huntington went all the way to the Arch Capital Group Cup finals at the Peter Collins Soccer Park in Plainview on June 8. The Strikers received the Howard Rubenstein Sportsmanship Award in the championship match after losing to the Commack Challengers, 5-1, to finish in second place in the competition.
With 123,843 youth soccer players––68,587 boys and 55,256 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 12 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. Eastern New York 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 Special Children. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. Eastern New York 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/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.