By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 10, 2017-Two neighboring Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) teams produced a memorable Boys-Under-13 State Open Cup final on Saturday, June 3 at Stringham Park in LaGrange. The Hauppauge Hurricanes and Smithtown Bayern tied 2-2 after overtime with Hauppauge taking the state title with a 4-2 victory in the shootout.
Aidan Augeri and Ryan Rush scored Hauppauge’s goals. Hauppauge coach Anthony Oliveto said, “It was a great game. It’s always back and forth between Smithtown and us.”
This was the third recent game between these teams. Hauppauge won during the regular season, 4-2, while Smithtown won in State Open Cup first round group play, 2-1.
As state champs, Hauppauge will represent the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) at the Regionals from June 30 to July 4 in Spotsylvania, Virginia.
Smithtown did not leave the Hudson Valley empty-handed, however, as they received the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award as determined by the game officials. Amoroso, a US Soccer Life Member who died last year, started the Sportsmanship Program of the LIJSL in 1980 and it spread to Eastern New York, nationally and then to China and Ireland, and in the process, made soccer games kinder and gentler.
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 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 onto http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.