By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 14, 2013-A first-half flick near the net by Will Rezin led to the only goal of the game to lead the Massapequa Rough Riders to a 1-0 win over Valley Stream Forest and the Boys-Under-19 State Open Cup at the Peter Collins Soccer Park in Plainview on June 8. The other dramatic play in the game between the two Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) teams occurred in the second half when Massapequa keeper Vincent Pellegrino saved a penalty kick.
"There was no quit in Forest as they really stepped up their play and had us under pressure in the second half. But I thought our speed of play overwhelmed them at times," commented Massapequa coach Eric Smith, described by Massapequa technical director (and longtime Hofstra men’s coach) Richard Nuttall as "one of the best young coaches in the United States."
Massapequa also received the Howard Rubenstein Sportsmanship Award. Now living in Ohio, the remarkable namesake of this award was seemingly involved in every facet of New York soccer for decades and is a member of the Halls of Fame of Eastern New York, the US Amateur Soccer Association and the Long Island Junior Soccer League.
Massapequa will represent the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) at the Regionals from June 28 to July 2 at the University of Rhode Island. Eastern New York is donating $2,000 to the team and paying all expense fees for the Regionals.
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. Eastern New York 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. Eastern New York 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.