By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
April 11, 2017-The United States Women’s National Team, defending World Cup champs, defeated Russia twice in the past week with six of the nine goals being scored by players who refined their skills in the Olympic Development Program (ODP) of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA).
The USA shut out Russia, 4-0, on April 6 in Frisco, Texas with all the goals scored by New Yorkers. Allie Long scored two goals as did Crystal Dunn.
Dunn picked up right where she left off three days later, adding two more goals to lead the United States to a 5-1 victory over Russia on April 9 in Houston. She was also brought down by Russia’s Ksenia Kovalenko which led to a penalty kick, converted by Carli Lloyd in the 20th minute, for the first goal of the game.
Dunn, currently competing for Chelsea in England, grew up a short corner kick from the Eastern New York office in Rockville Centre, received the 2012 Hermann Award as college soccer’s best player and was the 2015 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Most Valuable Player. She spent her formative years in the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), playing for the Rockville Centre Power, Rockville Centre Tornadoes and Albertson Fury ‘91. She is also a spokesperson for the At Peak educational app, which Eastern New York has provided to its players to prevent injuries.
Long, from East Northport in the Town of Huntington, played for three LIJSL club teams––the Northport/Cow Harbor Mustangs, Oceanside Express and the Albertson Express, winning four consecutive State Open Cup titles with the Express. She now plays professionally for the NWSL’s Portland Thorns.
“It’s very exciting to follow the careers of these two great players from Eastern New York and know that ODP contributed to their development,“ commented Eastern New York ODP Chairperson Jim Volpe.
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 on to http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.