By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 25, 2022-The Massapequa Force of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) defeated Coliseum Ajax of the Central New York Soccer League (CNYSL), 4-1, in the Boys-Under-10 Gold Challenge Cup final. This Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) championship game was played under sunny skies on June 4 at Stringham Park in LaGrange.
“It was a great game, Hunter Kennedy in goal for us was fantastic and the refs were great too,” commented Massapequa coach Paul Bigilin. “The game was everything soccer should be at this age.”
Cole Franzke scored two goals while Christian Brzezinsky and Gabe Alvarez each added one.
Massapequa 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.
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 Association. For more information, please log onto http://www.enysoccer.com/