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Longtime Fair Play Advocate Rocco Amoroso Nominated to Become a Life Member of U.S. Soccer

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By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
 
March 13, 2013-Melville, Long Island resident Rocco Amoroso has been nominated by the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association and Eastern New York State Amateur Soccer Association to become a Life Member of U.S. Soccer, which is one of the most prestigious awards in American soccer. The ceremony for accepted Life Members takes place at U.S. Soccer’s Annual General Meeting in Washington, DC from May 31 to June 2. The meeting will celebrate U.S. Soccer’s Centennial and Rocco has lived for 87 of those years, nearly all of which he has been active in soccer.
 
He stated, "This is something that I never expected. When I read the nomination letter, I was almost in tears at all the wonderful things written about me."
 
Rocco has touched so many lives in soccer that the letter nominating him took nearly a year to create. Youth President Richard Christiano and Senior President Sal Rapaglia wrote:
 
Rocco Amoroso has been inducted into the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) Hall of Fame and Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Hall of Fame. Rocco’s name is synonymous with sportsmanship and he puts his heart and soul into everything he does. Rocco played in New York’s Eastern District Soccer League in the post-World War II period. But his legacy in soccer came after he hung up his cleats for the last time.
 
The Sportsmanship Program of the LIJSL was the brainchild of Rocco in 1980 and is the first program of its kind––not just in the world of youth soccer, but in youth sports. Rocco had become concerned when he saw a lack of civility on the playing fields. As the LIJSL grew, there was a movement within the league to remain focused on its mission to develop mature teenagers and responsible citizens through the lessons of teamwork and Fair Play. The goal was to Build Character Through Soccer, a sentiment that comes from the Sportsmanship Program and continues to be the league’s slogan and mission statement to this day. With this in mind, Rocco wrote the guidelines, secured initial sponsorship of the program with the Sports Billy Organization and tirelessly promoted the program within the growing LIJSL membership. He stressed the important role that sportsmanship plays in the development of players. Referees submit sportsmanship ratings online after every game based on the cooperation of players, coaches and spectators, overall game conduct and player appearance. Winning teams in each division are recognized at special ceremonies and wear a sportsmanship award patch on their uniform––the only patch LIJSL players may wear on their uniform other than their club patch and American flag.
 
In 1983, Congressman Thomas Downey entered the name of the Long Island Junior Soccer League into the Congressional Record, mentioning the program’s slogan of Building Character Through Soccer. Rocco’s Sportsmanship Program guidelines have been adopted by ENYYSA and the American Youth Soccer Organization. In addition, the principles of the program have been incorporated by leagues in Ireland and China. And the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Cup is given annually to men’s and women’s teams in Eastern New York.
 
Rocco’s emphasis on sportsmanship changed the fabric of youth soccer in New York, throughout the United States and indeed in other parts of the globe, for the good of the game and the development of the character of its players. An enthusiastic public speaker, Rocco gives speeches on sportsmanship throughout Eastern New York at the meetings of the diverse youth and senior leagues, including annually at the Eastern New York State Amateur Soccer Association AGM. Rocco paid for signs which line the touchlines of local soccer fields that say: Eastern New York State Amateur Soccer Association––Fair Play, Please.
 
Soccer would not be the same disciplined sport today without Rocco’s profound influence, all done as a volunteer. He has been attending U.S. Soccer’s AGM throughout the United States for the past few decades and he always speaks about Sportsmanship in the Good of the Game portion of the AGM.
 
Although Rocco is the Sportsmanship Chairperson for ENYYSA, his involvement in soccer goes beyond Fair Play. He is also Chairperson for Eastern New York’s Hall of Fame Committee as well as a member of ENYYSA’s National Hall of Fame Committee. And New York Mens-Over-40 teams compete annually for the Rocco Amoroso Cup.
 
There is no one more deserving of the U.S. Soccer Life Member Award than Rocco and we hope that the nominating committee will look favorably upon this nomination.
 
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. 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.
 
 

Enrico Romano Honored as Eastern New York Personality of the Month

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By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

September 5, 2018-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that Trustee Enrico Romano is being honored as our Personality of the Month for September. The Highland resident has seemingly done it all in soccer as a player, coach, referee, assignor, administrator and volunteer.

“I’ve held many positions in soccer and the results of my effort speak for themselves,” Enrico stated. “Soccer is my passion and I am looking forward to continue helping ENYYSA in recruiting new players, trying to give many unprivileged children the opportunity to play. I thank President Richard Christiano, First Vice President Ken Gulmi, my colleagues on the Board of Directors and all the committee members who help me and they all work very hard to execute this task.“

Despite his surname meaning “Roman,” Enrico grew up a long corner kick south of Rome (and Naples, for that matter), playing soccer in Teggiano in the Province of Salerno before emigrating to the United States in 1974. He became a coach in the Beekman Youth Soccer Club in the East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL) and he coached his Boys-Under-19 travel team to winning the Dutchess Cup.

Enrico became a certified referee in 1998 and is still active as a ref today. He has served both the Hudson Valley Soccer Referees Association (HVSRA) and Mid-Hudson NISOA Chapter as President. He has also served the game as the referee assignor, the person who schedules refs, in Eastern New York’s adult and youth programs as well as college referees in the Independent Soccer Officials Assigning Bureau (ISOAB).

Enrico led the refs in Eastern New York as the State Referee Administrator from 2013 to 2016. During this time, the number of registered refs increased 30% to over 4,000 officials, he hosted top clinicians at Elite Referee Meetings at Fordham University in the Bronx (meetings still held today), had new referees in EHYSL be mentored by experienced officials and helped start EHYSL’s innovative Scout Program, where a senior ref or league volunteer observes youth soccer games at a local club and makes recommendations to improve the behavior at every game.

He is credited with discovering Robert Sibiga, who refereed the recent Major League Soccer All-Star Game. Enrico saw him refereeing high school games in 2009, realized his great potential and encouraged him to also ref under the US Soccer umbrella.

“Enrico was instrumental to my career. He is a great person and great friend and I would have never achieved what I did if it weren’t for him so I owe him a great deal,” Robert commented. “One day after I retire, I want to help referees the way Enrico helped me and others.”

Enrico has spent decades as a coach, referee, instructor, assessor and volunteer in the Hudson Valley and his fluency in English, Italian and Spanish certainly helped navigate the diverse soccer fields of Eastern New York. So it makes perfect sense, with all these good works, that Enrico is an EHYSL Hall of Famer, being inducted in 2010.

And his language fluency has been very important to his new role leading the Eastern New York Festivals. The inaugural festival was held on June 2 in Newburgh with others being planned for the future. This Soccer Open House shows kids, both boys and girls, all that youth soccer can offer them, such as the social and health benefits plus learning ideals such as sportsmanship and teamwork. Kids test their skills on a half-dozen exhibits while Eastern New York’s nationally-licensed coaches help them.

“I am promoting Eastern New York soccer to canvas both new and old players and coaches to embrace our sport and show all that Eastern New York offers, from coaching and ref courses, scholarships, Olympic Development Program, TOPSoccer Special Children’s Program, soccer insurance, risk management, etc.,” Enrico stated. 

And all this soccer is in addition to his “real job” at Executive VP at the Global Dental Network in addition to may years working at IBM. Congratulations to Enrico Romano, Eastern New York’s Personality of the Month for September.

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 nine 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.

Neil Bloom Tabbed as the Personality of the Month in Eastern New York

 

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By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

May 10, 2018-Although April showers bring May flowers, this spring in New York it was the combination of April snow showers and rain showers bringing May flowers. Now that spring has sprung across the Empire State, it’s appropriate that the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) honors a longtime volunteer named Bloom as our Personality of the Month for May.

This is the second recent award for Neil Bloom as he was honored as the Oceanside United Volunteer of the Year at the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Convention on March 9.

Neil grew up playing hockey but became deeply involved in soccer volunteering a dozen years ago.

“When my oldest daughter Soli was six years old, we drove by Boardman Middle School one day and saw all the kids playing soccer in the Oceanside United intramural program, and she wanted in,” Neil explained. “I knew very little of the game before that and did not even watch much soccer. My only real exposure to the game was in 7th grade when my school needed players to fill the team I played on, and in camp, where all the European-born counselors made us play soccer. I have since developed a love for the game on all levels from intramurals to professional.”

Neil became an assistant coach for Soli’s intramural team right away, and the next year, middle daughter Jillian started playing.

“From that point on, I was head coach or assistant coach of their teams going forward, to present day. Three years later, my youngest daughter Felice started playing and same thing, I coached or assisted every year she played,” Neil continued. “Soli and Jillian went on to play travel soccer and I was the head coach of the Oceanside Breakers and assistant coach of the Oceanside Tigersharks and Oceanside Riptide, which I still am to this day. Riptide are playing in their final LIJSL season this spring.”

It was a very quick climb up the volunteer ladder at Oceanside United as he has been a division coordinator, girls intramural director, assistant registrar, registrar, assistant tournament director and then tournament director for the past seven years. In this capacity, Neil leads both the Rudy Lamonica Indoor Tournament, the oldest youth indoor soccer tournament in the United States which celebrated its 51st anniversary this past winter, and the Bob Schrager Labor Day Weekend Tournament. Oceanside United has written that Neil’s “tireless work, attention to detail, networking with other clubs and ability to motivate and encourage volunteers to step up and assist with these tournaments makes them successful every year.”

And if that was not enough, the longtime Oceanside resident has served as Oceanside United’s Vice President for the past eight years, Second VP under President Steve Padaetz and First VP under Presidents Mike Meagher and Mike O’Malley. And all this volunteering is in addition to Neil’s “real job” as a Senior Attorney who practices in the area of commercial litigation with a focus on the construction industry at Shanker Law Group in Mineola.

“Neil is not only a dedicated father and volunteer but goes above and beyond whenever needed,” stated Oceanside United President Mike O’Malley. “He is always among the first to step up and lend a hand, and at same time is among the last to leave. Oceanside United is incredibly lucky to have a volunteer like Neil.”

Congratulations to Neil Bloom, Eastern New York’s Personality of the Month for May.

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.

Smithtown Roma Are the New Boys-Under-16 Eastern New York Premier League Champs

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By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
 
June 23, 2016-Two penalty kick goals from Dustin Brown propelled Smithtown Roma to the Boys-Under-16 Eastern New York Premier League (ENYPL) title as they defeated the Valley Stream Warriors, 2-1. This Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) championship game between two undefeated Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) teams was played on Saturday, June 18 at the Peter Collins Soccer Park in Plainview.
 
Valley Stream, whose goal was scored by Jean-Gardy Derineau, had a penalty kick of its own but a phenomenal save by Smithtown keeper Ethan Donovan kept the ball out of the net.
 
“The difference in the game was our defense as we won the 50-50 balls. Our forwards did a very good job pressing against a very talented Valley Stream team,” explained Smithtown coach Mike LaCarrubba.
 
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 teenagersbetween 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 turnedaway. 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.

Former Eastern New York ODP Player Mariela Jacome to Represent Ecuador in the Women’s World Cup

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Courtesy of St. John's University

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

June 1, 2015-Exactly a year ago, Mariela Jacome and her youth soccer team were winning the State Open Cup championship in LaGrange and now she is preparing for the Women’s World Cup.

She will realize her dream when she represents Ecuador in the upcoming Women’s World Cup in Canada. The Kinderhook resident is able to suit up for Ecuador through her father, who hailed from the South American nation.

“Eight months before my father passed from cancer, he told me that he wanted me to play at the highest level I could,” Mariela said. ”Now I have the opportunity to honor that dream and I'm extremely grateful for that.”

In the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), Mariela won the State Open Cup with the Alleycats Lynx of the Capital District Youth Soccer League (CDYSL), then won the Girls-Under-18 State Open Cup last June when her Quickstrike Xtreme ‘96s of the East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL) outlasted the HBC Silent Thunder, 3-2, in overtime. Additionally, she competed for Eastern New York’s Olympic Development Program (ODP). Her success on teams continue as the 1996 North ODP Team she played on won the Ryder Cup.

“Mariela’s technical ability is very good plus her focus and work ethic are tremendous,” commented her Quickstrike coach, Chris Lyn. “She finishes first in the fitness tests and is a really good player.”

At Ichabod Crane High School, she was named to the Albany Times Union Small School All-Star team as a senior in 2013, a year after tearing her ACL. As a freshman at St. John's University last fall, Mariela saw action in all 20 games for the Red Storm, making one start. The midfielder/forward tallied one point, an assist in her collegiate debut against St. Francis (Pa.).

“I'm absolutely ecstatic for Mariela,” said St. John's coach Ian Stone. “She is one of the hardest working players I have ever coached. This is a tremendous honor for Mariela, her family, her friends, everyone who has helped her on her way, and for St. John's women's soccer. I was already really excited for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada. Now to have one of our own student/athletes playing in it is remarkable.”

Ecuador will make its Women's World Cup debut on Monday, June 8, taking on Cameroon at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver. After a few days off, Ecuador will remain in Vancouver to play Switzerland on June 12. The team will then close out group play on June 16, playing Japan at Winnipeg Stadium.

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 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.

Brentwood Freedom Win Their Third Consecutive State Open Cup

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By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

June 9, 2015-Let freedom reign throughout the land just as the Brentwood Freedom reign as State Open Cup champions for the third consecutive year. Brentwood defeated another Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) team, the Lake Grove/Newfield Tsunami, with a 5-0 victory in the Girls-Under-16 State Open Cup final played on May 31 in LaGrange.

Sarah Harrington scored a hat trick plus Rachel Florenz and Megan Murdocco each added a goal.

“It was an even first half but Sarah Harrington really stepped up and scored three goals to help us win,” commented Brentwood coach Chris Roche. “We’ll be training four times a week now until the Regionals. We are using our failure of last year of not winning the Regionals to motivate us.”

Brentwood received a $2,000 check from the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) to defray their costs during the Regionals from June 26 to 30 in Barboursville, West Virginia.

As Girls-Under-16 State Open Cup champs, Brentwood won the new Peter Masotto Cup. The award’s namesake has been inducted into the Halls of Fame of the LIJSL, Eastern New York and Region 1 as well as being honored as a Life Member by U.S. Soccer. Peter volunteered as President of ENYYSA for 23 years from 1984 to 2006. He coached the Massapequa Falcons girls team to the 1988 national championship plus coached 18 teams to State Open Cup titles and is the only person honored twice by US Youth Soccer as the National Coach of the Year.

Lake Grove/Newfield did not leave LaGrange without an award as they received the Howard Rubinstein Sportsmanship Award for the Fair Play they displayed during the final.

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 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.

Italy Watch Out !

The Boys 2000 State Team has advanced to the quarter finals at the 26th Annual Trofeo Costa Gaia in Sicily!  They beat Castel Ventrano 1 – 0, Anthony Morales scored the winning goal.  The team will match up against Inter Milan next.  
 
The Boys 2000 State Team won the Trofeo Franco Manca Mini Tournament (photo below). They played Castellamare and won 2 to 1.
 
The Tournament is one of the top rated tournaments in Europe. Some of the teams represented are AC Milan, Juventus, Napoli, Palermo, Lazio, Albania, Romania, Poland, Russia and many more.
Last year the Boys South 1999 had a record of 4-2-1 record against top Italian competition with a goal differential of 16 to 5.
 
 
ODP Boys 2000 WOn Mini Tourney Italy 2012 
Anthony Morales is proud keeper of the tTrofeo Franco Manca Mini Tournament trophy
 

Marty DiCola Honored as Girls Competitive Coach of the Year

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By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association 

November 11, 2021-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that Marty DiCola has been selected as our 2021 Girls Competitive Coach of the Year.

Marty first became involved in soccer when his son Joe tried out for a rec team in the town of Cortlandt. His coach, Roger Arnold, was a friend and teacher in the district. Roger asked Marty to be his assistant coach in 1988.

The Cortlandt Soccer Club was founded in 1993 and Marty volunteered as its President from 1995 to the present. As this non-profit organization has fielded its final travel team, the Cortlandt Soccer Club has made donations to the scholarship programs of its league, the East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL), and to start a scholarship for the ref org that serves it, the Hudson Valley Soccer Referee Association (HVSRA).

Kids in Cortlandt can continue to play for the Town of Cortlandt Soccer Program, organized by the town’s recreation program.
 
Marty served as a referee from 1994 to 2007, retiring as a State Referee. But the Cortlandt Manor resident is probably best known as a coach, serving as both a youth coach for the Cortlandt Soccer Club and two tours of duty with Eastern New York’s Olympic Development Program (ODP) from 2000 to 2010 and from 2016 to 2019.

“I found myself constantly learning as much as I could about the game. I began playing every Thursday night and Sunday morning as well as becoming a successful referee,” Marty stated. “I have attended US Soccer’s B, C, D, E and F license programs over the many years I have been involved. This journey in soccer has given me a very satisfied feeling that I have given back to the youth soccer community over the years. I still have contact with many of the players who played for me, now many are adults with children of their own.” 

And all this soccer is in addition to owning Peekskill Paint & Hardware in Peekskill for 43 years along with his brother Jerry.  Since 2015, Marty has owned Peekskill Power and Repair Services and he repairs all types of gasoline power equipment. Marty quipped, “Yes, I still sell hardware. It's in my blood!”
 
With approximately 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 nine 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. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

Brentwood Premier Man City Are Aiming For the National Championship

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Back row, left to right: Coach Raul Campos, Matias Carrillo, Nelson Sanchez, Cristian Banegas, Dwightberto Vallardes, Rafael Estrada, Edson Jean, Diego Argueta, Dylan Blano Pena, Jeison Castro, Oscar Alvarenga, Jessie Perez-Vicente
Front row, left to right: Marcus Campos, Edilson Rivera, Diego Abrego, Esteban Loaiza, Alija Gardener, Gabriel Ruiz, Martin Zamorano, Coach Oscar Carrillo
 

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

 
July 13, 2021-Congratulations to Brentwood Premier Man City, who won the Boys-Under-13 Eastern Regionals in Hammonton, New Jersey on July 1 and will represent the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) in the US Youth Soccer Nationals from July 18 to 25 in the Bradenton-Sarasota area on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
 
Team manager Margaret Campos stated, “Not only the impeccable skill to perform complicated maneuvers on the field but also the creativity to adapt to difficult situations that our players are faced with are integral to the success of our young athletes. The boys play as a unit, they are friends on and off the field. Many of the boys have been playing together for the Brentwood Soccer Club since intramurals, which has given them incredible insight on a player-to-player basis. Being able to play together from such a young age in the Brentwood program makes this team special.”
 
Brentwood Premier Man City currently plays in the Eastern Development Program (EDP) and previously played in both the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) and New York Club Soccer League (NYCSL). They won the division title this spring in the North Atlantic EDP Conference, which is part of US Youth Soccer’s National League. Brentwood won the championship in the East Meadow Summer Tournament in 2020 plus the Jefferson Cup in Virginia and the Hershey Cup in Pennsylvania, both in 2019. 
 
To help defray the costs of playing in Florida, ENYYSA and the LIJSL have both donated $2,000 each to the team. Despite these donations, many families are having a difficult time securing the funds to travel and stay in the Sunshine State so the team has started a Go Fund Me page and all money raised will go directly to the boys:
 
 
“Our team practices hard and listens to their coaches, Oscar Carrillo and Raul Campos,” manager Campos explained. “Many of them spend hours at home honing their own skills in order to bring the team to another level. Even during the pandemic, they found a way to keep their skills sharp and began practicing as a team as soon as the state allowed youth sports to return. They came back ready to play and had an amazing year!”
 
 
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/