The Eastern New York Premier League (ENYPL) finals were played under sunny skies on Saturday, June 18 at the Peter Collins Soccer Park on Long Island. Congratulations to the champion teams:
BU14 Blue Division-Uniondale Pitbulls
A Sportsmanship Lesson From Rugby
By Tim Bradbury, Director of Coaching, Eastern New York Youth Soccer 
Association
Rugby is a great game, whether it be Rugby League or Rugby Union. The free-flowing nature and physical component of the game make it great fun to watch and play. It seems to confuse many but still seems to grow in popularity. By now as this is a soccer piece, you are thinking I received a blow on the head (maybe from playing rugby?) and have started to lose the plot.
So, what is the great lesson that soccer can take form rugby? For anyone that has watched a few games, the answer is all too obvious and easy to see. In rugby, the referee is treated with the utmost respect. They are revered by the players as someone who is there to protect both the players and ensure that the game is played in a wonderfully sporting atmosphere, one where the true values of sport, commitment, honesty, bravery, fair play and resilience are the most important things the game can produce.
It is worth noting that in soccer when a player displays a sense of fair play or does anything that best displays a truly human and caring nature it causes a medial stir. Just go YouTube and search for fair play in soccer. Yes, lots of players doing the right thing with deliberately missing pens but always an attack on the ref – Stoke allowing Gerrard to score, Robbie Fowler turning down a penalty kick, Ajax allowing their opponents to score, Di Canio catching a cross when he could score due to a previous infringement. Wouldn’t it be great if these types of moments were happening in soccer every weekend on youth fields all over the world?
We need to promote the refs as protectors of the game. Ambassadors doing their best to ensure that the game is played to the highest ethical ideal and ensure that all get to play in a safe environment. What most surprises me is how people react when the ref perceives to make a mistake. The ranting of all the parents and coaches, all of whom might be perfect in all they do and are mistake immune. Encourage your child to treat every ref with respect, not to argue over every decision and to be certain to thank the refs at the end of each game. Imagine the shock it would cause if all parents and coaches started honoring the refs and thank them at the end of each game.
It is a simple truth and equation that x amount of games require x amount of refs and within ENYYSA it is true to say that we are desperately short of refs. Which means that those still willing to face the barrage they deal with every game are doing more matches than ever with less rest and more stress as they drive from game to game. This is a problem that every coach, parent and player need to face together. Time for all to spend a quite moment of reflection and consider how their behavior impacts the atmosphere the refs work within.
Now you have finished reflecting, let's start fixing the problem.
Brentwood Blaze Keeps the Fire Burning By Winning Second Consecutive State Title
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 11, 2019-Two goals off corner kicks by central defender Bella Romano was the difference as the Brentwood Blaze topped Alleycats 2000/2001G, 2-1, to bring the Barbara Rodriguez Cup home to Long Island as Girls-Under-19 State Open Cup champs.
The award is named for the Northport resident who volunteered as the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) State Cup Chairperson for 23 years from 1992 to 2014, and her cup final was played on June 2 at Stringham Park in LaGrange.
It was Brentwood’s second consecutive State Open Cup championship.
Brentwood coach Chris Roche said, “I thought that both teams played their hearts out.”
Brentwood will represent Eastern New York at the Regionals from June 28 to July 4 in Charleston, West Virginia as part of the National Championship Series.
Alleycats received the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award, as determined by the game officials. Amoroso, a US Soccer Life Member who died in 2016, started the Long Island Junior Soccer League (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.
USA teammates Crystal Dunn and Allie Long plus Jamaica goalkeeper Nicole McClure, competing in the Women's World Cup, all played on youth teams that won Eastern New York’s State Open Cup when they were kids.
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/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.
Long Island Goes Pink For Cancer Awareness
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
October 22, 2012-While orange (for Halloween) might be the color traditionally associated with October, pink has muscled in during the past few years as October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
On October 14, the Peter Collins Soccer Park in Plainview was bathed in pink as the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), in conjunction with Estée Lauder, held their Pink Ribbon Day to raise awareness for breast cancer research. The Estée Lauder Company and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation donated over 800 pink ribbon bracelets to members of the nearly 40 Girls-Under-15 teams who played at the Soccer Park that day.
Players and visitors to the Soccer Park also received pink ribbons and brochures with information celebrating the Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign (BCA) 20th Anniversary. The campaign supports The Breast Cancer Research Foundation® (BCRF) which was founded by Mrs. Evelyn H. Lauder.
LIJSL squads from all over Suffolk, Nassau and Queens were at the Soccer Park wearing pink socks, pink jerseys and the pink bracelets.
Additionally, on August 19, a dozen teams of Estée Lauder employees and executives, and local Girls-Under-14 and Girls-Under-15 teams from the LIJSL, took part in a series of friendlies to support the fight against breast cancer.
This was the eighth summer that these friendly games have taken place at the Soccer Park, which is donated by the LIJSL for the event. The $1,700 raised on August 19 adds to the more than $8.5 million that the Estée Lauder Company has raised for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Statistics have shown that one out of nine Long Island women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime.
Currently, 91 cents of every dollar spent by the Breast Cancer Research Foundation is directed towards breast cancer research and awareness programs. In addition, the BCA Campaign is donating $1 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation® for every post on the BCA Campaign’s interactive timeline on Facebook during the month of October up to a maximum of $25,000. Visit bcacampaign.com and join at facebook.com/bcacampaign.
With over 1,500 travel and premier teams, the LIJSL is one of the world’s largest soccer leagues and the largest league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA).
Kosmos FC’s Niko Touros Receives the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League’s Scholarship
Niko is second from left in the front row of this Kosmos FC team photo.
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
July 28, 2014-You might remember the story about Niko Touros, who was seen by scout Ricardo Enriquez while playing for Alianza de Futbol Hispano last summer at Flushing Meadows Park. His stellar play led to a successful tryout with the Under-20’s of powerhouse Mexican side Leon last winter.
Unfortunately, Niko needs surgery to repair his ACL so he could not return to Mexico this summer. Brightening his day is the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL) Scholarship he received as it’s worth $4,000 or $1,000 for every year of school. Any high school senior who played in the CJSL at least five years is eligible and the award is based on academic and athletic achievement. But college is up in the air as Niko has not yet completely decided which university he will be attending but he has a nice diversion while he makes his final decision.
“My older brother Peter was one of four winners from around the world for Gatorade’s Unreal Around the World Competition where he will be traveling to England, Italy, Spain, Argentina and Brazil. He'll be training with the coaching staff and possibly the players from Arsenal, Liverpool, AC Milan, Barcelona, Boca Juniors and the Brazilian Football Confederation inside each team’s stadium including a scrimmage inside the Maracana Stadium, where the 2014 World Cup final was played,” Niko explained. “He was fortunate enough to be allowed one guest and that will be me!”
So Niko postponed surgery until he returns to the United States.
“My plans for the fall include a lot of physical therapy and recuperation and trying my hardest to be ready for the spring,” Niko said. “Wherever I’ll be attending school, I'll be focusing on my studies and I hope to recover from surgery 100% and transfer to a Division 1 soccer program.”
Niko has played for Kosmos FC since he was a little boy. He was born in 1996, the same year that Kosmos FC was founded.
The Bellerose resident credits his parents, Andreas and Joanne Touros, and the competition he faced in the CJSL for making him the player he is today. While playing both midfielder and forward, Niko’s Kosmos FC teams won the CJSL championship four times and the City Cup twice.
Niko also played for the Olympic Development Program of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and served as the captain for Francis Lewis High School in Queens.
He is no stranger to competition at the highest level as he has participated in Nike 2.0 The Chance Competition, placing as a top 50 player nationally and he represented New York at Nike headquarters in Oregon. Niko also played with the New York Stars (Italian-American Soccer League) team in February 2013 that participated in the prestigious Viareggio Coppa Carnavale tournament in Viareggio, Italy, where he played against youth teams from Napoli, Lecce and Hungary’s Honved Budapest.
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.
Auburndale’s Giulio Petruccelli Inducted Into the Eastern New York Soccer Hall of Fame
From left to right, Eastern New York State Adult Soccer Association President Sal Rapaglia, Hall of Fame Chairperson Rocco Amoroso, new Hall of Famer Giulio Petruccelli, Eastern New York State Adult Soccer Association Treasurer Mario Treglia and Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association President Richard Christiano
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
December 13, 2013-The Eastern New York State Adult Soccer Association and Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) congratulate Giulio Petruccelli on being inducted into the Eastern New York Soccer Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony took place at our 2013 Holiday Party on December 8 at Marina del Rey in the Bronx.
Giulio, a native of Italy, immigrated to New York City in 1963. He started playing soccer for Benjamin Cardozo High School and was fortunate to have a great soccer coach, Mr. Tatarian, who started his passion of soccer and became one of the most influential people in his life. Giulio advanced from a mediocre soccer player to the MVP award recipient in his senior year. He also played for the New York Bavarians Soccer Club in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League. He then played for Queens College before a serious injury ended his playing career.
So in 1973, a decade after he arrived in New York, he started a life of volunteering for the Auburndale Soccer Club of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL). He began coaching for the intramural program and then advanced to head coach of the entire club. With the help of other devoted volunteers, he increased the Auburndale intramural program from 4 to 37 teams.
Recently, with his daughter Teresa, Giulio founded the Auburndale TOPSoccer Special Children’s Program.
Not surprisingly, the Flushing resident has received the Coach of the Year Award for both the Auburndale Soccer Club as well as the entire LIJSL. He has been honored with Auburndale’s Lifetime Achievement Award plus was selected as the Queens Man of the Year and by NY Channel 1 as the Volunteer of the Year.
Giulio co-founded the S.S. Cosma & Damiano Soccer Club of the Italian-American Soccer League and became the player/coach of the team. Cosma eventually became one of the most successful soccer teams in the league and in all of New York State. Giulio has been inducted into the S.S. Cosma & Damiano Hall of Fame.
His teachings go beyond the soccer field. Giulio teaches his players how to respect the coaching staff and the referees, respect their teammates and more importantly to respect themselves by keeping them off the street and on the soccer field.
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.
Brentwood Shows Their Pride in Winning Second Consecutive State Open Cup
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 6, 2014-In the Girls-Under-16 State Open Cup final between two Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) teams, the Brentwood Pride won their second consecutive championship with a 3-1 win over the New Hyde Park Lynx. The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) title game was played on Saturday, May 31 at Stringham Park in LaGrange.
Claudia Cagnina scored two goals and Tara Manchio added another to pace Brentwood to victory.
“We scored early and when you step on the field as the favorites, it’s important to score early,” said Brentwood coach Nir Sveri. “But it’s always challenging to play against an athletic team like New Hyde Park.”
Brentwood received a $2,000 check from Eastern New York to defer the costs of playing in the Regionals from June 26 to July 1 in Kingston, Rhode Island.
New Hyde Park received the Howard Rubenstein Sportsmanship Award as selected by the match officials. Now retired, 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 LIJSL.
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.
June is Championship Month in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
May 10, 2017-“I like New York in June, how about you?” is the opening lyric to a song introduced in the 1941 film “Babes on Broadway” and sung by such notables as Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney and Frank Sinatra. Youth soccer players like New York in June too as it’s Championship Month in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA). 45 teams will be crowned state champions next month.
Nearly all the action is on the first two weekends in June at Stringham Park in LaGrange, the home of the LaGrange Soccer Club, with the State Cup finals being played there. The finals are divided into State Open Cup (for the best teams in the state) and Arch Cup (for the teams that are not yet the best). And the Arch Cup is split into Platinum and Gold competitions in most age groups so every travel team in Eastern New York has a legitimate chance to win a cup title. The schedule for the State Cup finals:
