By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 23, 2014-Even a heavy downpour could not keep over 300 eighth grade boys and girls of the Staten Island Youth Soccer League (SIYSL) from celebrating their Senior Night on June 3 at the brand-new Owl Hollow Fields. The boys and girls from the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association’s (ENYYSA) southernmost league played in separate sessions with each teen being placed on one of eight teams, grouped by the high school they will attend this fall. Every team played three 25-minute games, were treated to pizza and drinks plus given a sweatshirt with the name and school colors of the high school they will attend.
“Tonight's event was another tremendous success for our league,” stated SIYSL President Bill Smith. “All our players had a great time and it is amazing how many parents approach us, saying how this is such a nice thing for our kids, and they had no idea that the league does this every year.”
Senior Night Chairperson Fred Cipriani added, “This is my second year heading up this event, and I am thrilled with how much the kids enjoy this event and how much support and dedication we get from our directors, coaches, the high school community and, of course, our volunteer committee of Maureen Motley, Colleen Costagliola and Mike Segretto.”
In-between the girls session and the boys session, all of the players and their families gathered on one field and Scholarship Committee Chair and League Secretary Keri Mullen read the names of the nominees from each club and the scholarship recipients. Every nominee received a framed certificate recognizing their nominations which were based on soccer experience, academic achievement and community service.
“I would like to thank the directors for submitting all these fine candidates. It was a very difficult process as they were all so deserving,” Ms. Mullen stated "We, as a committee, are amazed at the qualifications the candidates have year after year. I thank the committee of Lizz Morano, John Moschella, Kristine Seibel and Maureen Motley for their dedication and hard work.”
Scholarship recipients
Boys
1st Place: Christopher Mazza (St. John Neumann)
2nd Place: Timothy Brereton (St. Joseph Hill Academy)
Girls
1st Place: Allison DiPaolo (Our Lady Star of the Sea)
2nd Place (tie): Maria DiNicola (Petrides)
2nd Place (tie): Sophia Marolla (Our Lady Help of Christians)
Boys Nominees
Timothy Brereton (St. Joseph Hill Academy)
Patrick Byrnes (Our Lady Help of Christians)
Thomas DiMartinis (Petrides)
Michael Hotaling (Great Kills)
Raymond Maglione (Richmondtown)
Christopher Mazza (St. John Neumann)
Jack McGovern (St. Charles)
Robert Sorrentino (Our Lady Star of the Sea)
Girls Nominees
Alexa Albanese (St. Charles)
Kerry Byrnes (Our Lady Queen of Peace)
Kelly Connelly (Great Kills)
Giavanna Corazza (St. Joseph Hill Academy)
Katie Curtis (Notre Dame Academy)
Emma DeCarlo (Our Lady of Good Counsel)
Maria DiNicola (Petrides)
Allison DiPaolo (Our Lady Star of the Sea)
Anna Giubileo (St. John Neumann)
Megan Gorman (Blessed Sacrament)
Francesca Lupari (Sacred Heart)
Sophia Marolla (Our Lady Help of Christians)
Megan Taylor (Academy of St. Dorothy)
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 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 Special Children. 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 on to http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.