
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 15, 2021-Alleycats 2007 Red topped Lake Grove Venom, 2-1, in the Girls-Under-14 State Open Cup championship game for the Barry Salter Cup on June 5 at Stringham Park in LaGrange. Salter volunteered as President of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) from 2006-10 as well as serving in the same role with the Westchester Youth Soccer League (WYSL). He was inducted into the Hall of Fame of both groups.
The Alleycats’ first goal was scored by Alina Lagace and their second was on a penalty kick by Brooke Dufour after Jordyn Chrysler was fouled in the penalty area.
Alleycats’ coach Chris Le said that “experience in tight games to get to the finals against very good New York Surf and Real Ole teams, resilience and mental toughness to manage the heat and injuries that came up in the lead up and beginning of the game, and a really strong team effort defensively led us to the title. Brooke Dufour came up big for us in the back when we had to move her from striker to fill in at center back when our regular starter was not able to play due to injury, but everyone did their part and contributed to a tough team win.”
The Alleycats 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.
Lake Grove received the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award as determined by the game officials. The namesake of the award, who died in 2016, was inducted into the Halls of Fame of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) and Eastern New York plus was honored as a Life Member by U.S. Soccer. Amoroso started the LIJSL Sportsmanship Program in 1980, it has since been copied around the world and he spoke about the benefits of Fair Play across the United States.
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/