Back row, left to right: Marianna Nieves, Gloria Arango, Brooke Papele, Arianna Ortiz, Megan Fitzgerald, Skylar Papele, Alexa Billingham, Trainer Krista Minto
Front row, left to right: Kathleen Turano, Alison Devall, Lakin Ciampo, Nicolette Constant, Jessica Nischo, Allison Rinfret, Sara Hobbes
Missing: Bridget Abraldes, Mikayla Pulido
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
July 8, 2014-The Sachem Speed have just concluded one of the most successful seasons in Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) history.
In the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) State Open Cup final on May 31 at Stringham Park in LaGrange, Sachem shut out another LIJSL team, the HBC Barracudas, 1-0. In the State Open Cup, Sachem won all six of their games, outscoring their opponents, 16 to 1.
Sachem defeated Alleycats Red of the Capital District Youth Soccer League (CDYSL), 3-0, in the Eastern New York Premier League (ENYPL) finals on June 14 at Owl Hollow Fields on Staten Island. Sachem went 7-1-0 during the ENYPL season, outscoring the other Girls-Under-12 premier teams by 18 to 3.
“They are a great group of girls,” commented coach Rob Rinfret. “The one main reason for our success is the girls’ determination. Yes they are great athletes, but all the top teams have great athletes. The Speed girls never give up. When they are down or are being outplayed, they dig deep down and work harder to correct their mistakes.”
The competition continued to become more challenging as Sachem faced other State Open Cup champions during Regionals at the University of Rhode Island. But Sachem was up to the task as they went 4-0-1 at Regionals, outscoring the other State champions by an amazing 15 to 3. They shut down New Jersey’s PDA Storm, 1-0, in the final on July 1 as Sachem’s Brooke Papele scored off a beautiful free kick by Alexa Billingham.
Congratulations to the Sachem Speed, Girls-Under-12 Regional Champions!
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 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 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. 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/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.