By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 22, 2021-The Boys-Under-18 State Open Cup final on June 6 at Stringham Park in LaGrange was an intriguing match-up between teams from the Hudson Valley and Long Island. Quickstrike NL Blue from the Hudson Valley doubled up on the Long Island Soccer Club Boys Academy, 4-2, to win the Ray Wolfe Cup.
The cup’s honoree played in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League, coached in the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL) and was State Youth Referee Administrator (SYRA) of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) for nearly a decade before passing away for years ago.
Quickstrike will represent Eastern New York at the East Regionals from June 25 to July 1 at Hammonton, New Jersey as part of the National Championship Series.
Long Island was selected by game officials to receive the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award. Nicknamed Mr. Sportsmanship, Rocco founded the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Sportsmanship Program in 1980 and it was copied around the world. He served as Chairperson of Eastern New York’s Hall of Fame Committee until his passing in 2016 at the age of 89.
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/