By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 5, 2013-A penalty kick goal by Anthony Passiatore in the first half was all the scoring that Lake Grove United of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) needed as they won the Boys-Under-18 State Open Cup. Their win over the Westchester Youth Soccer League’s Manhattan Ajax, 1-0, took place at Stringham Park in LaGrange on June 2.
"We dominated the first half and I thought we should have been up by a few goals," commented Lake Grove coach Tim Graham. "But Manhattan came back as they are a class team that never died."
Coach Graham added, "The last 15 to 20 minutes, Manhattan was in control of the game. But we hung on for the win."
Lake Grove will represent the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) at the Regionals from June 28 to July 2 at the University of Rhode Island. Eastern New York is donating $2,000 to the team and paying all expense fees for the Regionals.
Manhattan received the Howard Rubenstein Sportsmanship Award. Now living in Ohio, 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 Long Island Junior Soccer League.
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.