By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 20, 2023-Patriots FC topped Force FC, 2-1, in overtime in the Girls-Under-18 State Open Cup championship game on June 4 at Stringham Park in LaGrange. Annie MacGuire scored both goals for the Patriots.
Richard Christiano, the cup's namesake, has brought fiscal responsibility to the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) as President for the past 14 years. He also was a youth coach for the New Hyde Park Wildcats and served on the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Board of Directors for 14 years, greatly improving the LIJSL Select Program during this time.
“They started off well and put us under pressure. We were down 1-0 at halftime and regrouped,” explained Patriots FC coach Phil Bannister.
Force FC received the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award as determined by the game officials. Amoroso, a US Soccer Life Member who died in 2016, started the LIJSL Sportsmanship Program in 1980 and it spread to Eastern New York, nationally and then to China and Ireland.
The State Cup was presented by LifeVac, the choking rescue device that has saved over 900 lives and counting.
Patriots FC will represent Eastern New York at the Nationals from July 17 to 23 in Orlando as part of the National Championship Series.
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 10 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/