
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
April 8, 2013-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased with the results and the skills displayed by its Olympic Development Program (ODP) players competing in Italian tournaments.
At the start of 2013, our Boys-Under-13 ODP Team won the small Torneo Franco Manca and made the quarterfinals of the Trofeo Costa Gaia, both in Sicily.
Two Under-14 ODP teams, part of an army of 80 people from Eastern New York, played during the Spring Break in the Agropoli Cup, a long corner kick south of Naples. Eastern New York’s Girls-Under-14 ODP Team won the championship with a perfect 4-0-0 record, outscoring opponents 17-0. They defeated Napoli, the youth team of the professional squad (3-0), Roma, another youth team of the pro squad (2-0), Salerno (6-0), then another Napoli team in the final (6-0).
"The trip was an incredible experience. The team included players from different clubs throughout Eastern New York and really came together as a team and represented the state beautifully," commented girls head coach Sarah Dwyer-Shick. "By playing against and trying to communicate with the Italian players, the girls saw first-hand that the playing opportunities they have are not available to many girls outside of the US. After a lifetime involved in soccer to see international competition though the eyes of these young athletes was truly amazing."
"It was the experience of a lifetime! Our girls’ level of play and commitment to soccer were outstanding and our coaches were spectacular," said Chandler Khosrowshahi, whose daughter LiliAnna registered four consecutive shutouts in goal for Eastern New York. "And the Italian girls we played were lovely."
The Boys-Under-14 ODP Team finished in third place, losing to Jaragad in their first game (0-2), then tying Agropoli Jagad (1-1), shutting out Freccio Azzurro (1-0) and defeating Sacred Curoe Agropoli (2-0) in the third place game.
"The tournament was a very important experience for the ODP players, coaches and parents to see a different style of playing outside of the United States," commented boys head coach Miguel Cuellar. "We had the opportunity to see the rich cultural and soccer history of Italy as well so it was an educational experience for everyone."
Congratulations to our teams that represented Eastern New York so well!
The Girls ODP Roster: Mikayla Alcorn (Manhattan), Ariana Aliprantis (Manhasset), Rain Condie (Manhattan), Emma Cusanelli (Sleepy Hollow), Margaret Cusanelli (Sleepy Hollow), Sophia Fikke (Manhattan), Ana Garibaldi (Manhattan), Melanie Jelen (Woodside), LiliAnna Khosrowshahi (Briarcliff Manor), Emma Ladouceur (Manhattan), Samantha Margolis (Fresh Meadows), Lauren Marinello (Merrick), Jocelyn Mayer (Manhattan), Alexandra McNicholas (Rockville Centre), Grace Meade Sipp (Manhattan), Analiese Schwartz (Manhattan), Caitlin Shoemaker (Manhattan), Emily Tenaglia (Flushing), Coach Sarah Dwyer-Shick (Beacon), Assistant Coach Luis Ramos (Valley Stream)
The Boys ODP Roster: Yassine Alami Binani (Holliswood), Fabian Alarcon (Flushing), Anthony Blaskovic (Whitestone), Ian Blugh (Staten Island), Ashley Boniface (Oakland Gardens), Jake Camarillo (South Hempstead), Niall Coffey (Cold Spring Harbor), Thomas Decicco (Staten Island), Andres Flores (Manhattan), Joseph Guzzo (Queens Village), Benjamin Lang (Forest Hills), Eric Layden (Poughquag), Marcello Mastronardi (College Point), Carlos Penaherrera (Campbell Hall), Domenico Pugliese (Massapequa), Wilson Quintero (Jackson Heights), Jose Ramirez (Flushing), Charles Taibi (Whitestone), Rosario Troia (Whitestone), Coach Miguel Cuellar (Lindenhurst), Assistant Coach Mike Megaloudis (Flushing)
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.