By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
December 11, 2012-Jose Vargas was an Eastern New York Soccer Hall of Famer, State Referee Administrator, State Youth Referee Administrator and State Director of Assessing. Before his passing in 2010, he discovered Emilie Buse, who has received the Jose Vargas Award as the 2012 Eastern New York Referee of the Year. The award ceremony took place at the 2012 Eastern New York Holiday Party on December 1 at Lido Restaurant on City Island.
"Eastern New York has always been so supportive of me," Emilie commented. "I’d just like to thank everybody, especially Jose Vargas."
The 24-year-old lives in Harrison and grew up in the Albany area. She has been officiating for the past decade.
The award’s namesake discovered her as a college freshman in 2006 when he saw her officiating a series of matches in the Mount Kisco League. Emilie played for SUNY Purchase in 2006 and 2007 plus 2009, studying abroad in 2008. As a freshman, she led the Panthers to the North East Atlantic Conference title and was honored as Tournament MVP. SUNY Purchase then moved to the Skyline Conference and she was selected as First Team All-Conference in 2007 and Second Team All-Conference in 2009.
Emilie was honored as the Capital District Youth Soccer League (CDYSL) Young Female Referee of the Year in 2007. She has also refereed in the East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL) and Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) State Cup finals. In the Eastern New York State Senior Association, Emilie has officiated the Cosmopolitan Soccer League, Eastern District Soccer League, Liga de Yonkers and Mount Kisco League. She’s also officiated in the Premier Development League, WPSL Elite and W-League plus has three FIFA international games on her résumé.
"Emilie is very dedicated and always there when you need her," State Referee Administrator Howard Rubinstein said. "She is very helpful to the neophyte referee. She’ll be on the FIFA list someday soon, either as a referee or assistant referee."
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. 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.