ODP Players Ruby Erstein and Gianna Recine Starring in School Sports

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

November 15, 2021-As the School Fall Sports Season reaches its conclusion, two girls born in 2008 are making names for themselves. Both play for the Olympic Development Program (ODP) 2008 South Team of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA).

Ruby Erstein of Roslyn is an eighth grader who played against boys as a member of the Schechter School of Long Island boys varsity soccer team. She started in the Private Schools Athletic Association (PSAA) Metro Conference final against Waldorf.

Schechter coach Jordan Abrahamson told Newsday, “She proved that she was very capable of hanging with kids who are four to five years older than her…She’s very fearless with the ball. She’s not afraid to get at defenders and take them one vs. one.”

Ruby explained, “I want to be in the Olympics one day. It would mean a lot. It would mean the hard work that I put in came through.”

The football team of Howitt Middle School in Farmingdale struggled with an inconsistent kicking game. Coaches took notice of Gianna Recine’s strong foot while she was practicing with the middle school girls soccer team at the other end of the field.

“I asked Gianna to come over and practice a few field goal kicks,” said middle school football coach Colin Leary. “It was obvious she was more than capable.”

After squaring away all the protocols with the Athletic Department and getting her parents’ blessing, Gianna threw on football pads and practiced with the team.

She went 3 for 3 in extra points in her debut against Oceanside, kicking the football dead center through the uprights. Farmingdale was victorious with a 36-0 win.

“Ruby and Gianna are excellent soccer players who tried out for ODP and made the team. We look forward to their continued success athletically and scholastically,” stated ODP Director Jim Volpe.

In club soccer, Ruby plays for the Long Island Soccer Club while Gianna wears the green and white of the Farmingdale Soccer Club.

Gianna Recine. Photo courtesy of the Farmingdale School District.

With approximately 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 nine 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. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/