Staten Island United Gunners
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 25, 2015-The ENY Premier League finals showcased great teamwork and many competitive games as they were played from morning to night, under the lights, on Saturday, June 20 at Owl Hollow Fields on Staten Island.
The Staten Island United Gunners defeated Buenavista Futbol NY Kids, 7-1, in the Boys-Under-15 final in their home borough. Staten Island adds the ENY Premier League title to their growing team trophy case which includes the 2012 State Open Cup and 2015 ENY Champions Cup.
“Buenavista had some great talent but I thought we played more as a team,” commented Staten Island coach George MacDonald.
Another highlight was two cousins from different clubs becoming champions. Nisa Cortez, who lives Upstate in Schenectady, won the Girls-Under-18 ENY Premier League championship with FC Dutchmen Intensity while her Downstate cousin, Samantha Flores of Brooklyn, was a Girls-Under-17 champ with Manhattan Kickers Red.
The refs from the Staten Island Soccer Referees Association (SISRA), including 2014 Eastern New York Referee of the Year Albert Calise, officiated the games.
“As the Gateway to Regional Play, the teams that won the ENY Premier League title will be looking to move on to play in the Region 1 Champions League,” explained ENY Premier League Director Steve Padaetz. “I’d be remiss if I did not thank all our wonderful volunteers in helping make the ENY Premier League finals a huge success.”
The 10 championship matches were organized by the volunteers of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and Staten Island Youth Soccer League (SIYSL). The results from a day of great soccer:
Boys-Under-12: HBC IA Real ‘02 2, Lynbrook/East Rockaway Sting 1 in overtime
Boys-Under-13: Garden City Gladiators 2, West Babylon Pride 0
Boys-Under-14: Uniondale NYSLA Leones 4, Hicksville Galaxy 1
Boys-Under-15: Staten Island United Gunners 7, Buenavista Futbol NY Kids 1
Boys-Under-16: Westchester United FC and FC Dutchmen Roughnecks tied 2-2 after overtime. Westchester won the title, 4-3, in the shootout.
Boys-Under-17: Lake Grove/Newfield Warriors and Hampton United Gladiators tied 2-2 after overtime. Lake Grove/Newfield won the title, 4-3, in the shootout.
Boys-Under-18: Commack Soccer Academy ‘98 2, FC Dutchmen Patriots 1
Girls-Under-14: Merrick PAL Storm 3, Lake Grove Blast 1
Girls-Under-17: Manhattan Kickers Red 2, FC Dutchmen Fury 1
Girls-Under-18: FC Dutchmen Intensity 4, Sachem Alliance 0
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 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.
Cousins Nisa Cortez (on left) and Samantha Flores