By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 8, 2016-The Girls-Under-14 Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) State Open Cup final was an intriguing encounter between the West Islip Wildcats of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) and Staten Island United Hotshots of the Staten Island Youth Soccer League (SIYSL) and Eastern New York Premier League (ENYPL).
West Islip wound up victorious, 2-0, behind second half goals by Jaden Hampel and Amanda Librizzi. Goalkeeper Jillian Radesca had the shutout in goal during the June 4 title game under sunny skies at Stringham Park in LaGrange.
“We were outplayed the first half but we came out in the second half and would not be stopped,” West Islip coach Lori Meyers stated.
West Islip also received the Howard Rubenstein Sportsmanship Award as determined by the game officials. Now living in Kentucky, Mr. Rubenstein was seemingly involved in every facet of New York soccer for decades and is a member of the Halls of Fame of Eastern New York, the US Amateur Soccer Association and the LIJSL.
West Islip will be representing Eastern New York when they play in Regionals, as part of the National Championship Series, from June 30 to July 5 in Barboursville, West Virginia and Eastern New York will help pay for their costs.
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/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.