By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer AssociationJune 12, 2024-Fittingly that two teams from Long Island would play in the final for the Peter Collins Cup as the cup’s namesake volunteered as Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) President from 1977 to 2004, coached the Hicksville Minutemen to the Boys-Under-19 national finals and was a U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer and U.S. Soccer Life Member.
New York Hota shut out the Massapequa Boltz, 3-0, on June 2 under sunny skies at Stringham Park in LaGrange.
Sebastian Knight, Marco Pantano and Londel Wheeler scored New York Hota’s goals while Shane Anatao recorded the shutout in goal.
“Massapequa has been in the final numerous times before so we knew that they would be a difficult opponent to play against,” explained New York Hota coach Scott Knight. “We kept possession of the ball and did a good job managing the game.”
New York Hota will represent the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) at the East Regionals from June 27 to July 3 in Charleston and Barboursville, West Virginia as part of the National Championship Series.
Massapequa did not go home empty-handed as they received the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award as determined by the game officials. Amoroso, a US Soccer Life Member who died eight years ago, started the LIJSL Sportsmanship Program in 1980 and it spread to Eastern New York, nationally and then to China and Ireland, and in the process, made soccer games kinder and gentler.
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 10 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 US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log onto http://www.enysoccer.com/