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Excelsior FC Raises Money for the Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center

Coach Ahmad Manning surrounded by his players at the Care for Kids Radiothon.

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

May 13, 2013-Excelsior FC Premier, a proud member of the Capital District Youth Soccer League (CDYSL) and Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), participated earlier this month in the Care for Kids Radiothon to benefit the Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center.

Excelsior FC President and Director of Coaching Ahmad Manning plus players and parents from their Boys-Under-12 team volunteered at Albany Medical Center to answer phones and to help raise money for the Children’s Hospital. In addition, the boys collected soccer balls for patients and signed them with "Get Well" wishes and went on the air with radio personalities from The River to encourage donations.

"Whenever we can give back, that is a staple of our club," Coach Manning told the radio audience. "We compete on the field but our ultimate goal is to serve our community. One of our Soccer Moms saw this event and we jumped right on it."

The 15th Annual Radiothon, held May 2 and 3 on News Talk 810, 103.1 WGY and 99.5 The River, was a another record-setter. The two-day event surpassed the $600,000 mark for the first time, raising a total of $626,172, an increase of more than 10% from 2012. The Children’s Hospital is a 125-bed facility devoted exclusively to the medical needs of infants, children and adolescents, and is the referral center for all seriously ill and injured children from 25 counties in upstate New York and western New England.

Excelsior FC was founded in 2012 and during the past year, players, parents and coaches also have volunteered serving Thanksgiving meals at the City Mission of Schenectady and held a Holiday Toy Drive to give to less fortunate children of the Capital District.

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.

Former Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association President Peter Masotto Inducted Into the Region 1 Soccer Hall of Fame

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

October 23, 2013-Former Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) President Peter Masotto was inducted into the Region 1 Hall of Fame on October 19 in Portland, Maine. Peter is the first member from Eastern New York to receive this high honor from Region 1 and he was inducted with longtime U.S. Women’s National Team player Kristine Lilly. The two already shared some history together before the ceremony as Peter coached his Massapequa Falcons team to a 4-2 win in the 1986 Girls-Under-16 Region 1 final and Kristine scored the Connecticut team’s two goals.

In Peter’s speech, he talked about how important it was to start girls soccer. "I started coaching because of my two girls, Annmarie and Patricia."

This is the fourth Hall of Fame he has been inducted into, having previously become a member of the Hall of Fame of Eastern New York (1998), the Long Island Junior Soccer League (1999) and the East Hudson Youth Soccer League (2004). In addition, he received the rare double honor of being selected a Life Member of both Eastern New York and US Soccer in the same year (2006).

Peter has been an extraordinary presence in youth soccer for nearly 40 years, beginning in 1975. His service and accomplishments are incomparable and include:

• He served as an Eastern New York Youth Soccer board member for 27 years, the last 23 as President from 1984 to 2006. He oversaw the growth of our member leagues from a relatively modest state association to a robust organization of 125,000 youngsters.

• Peter started coaching in New York in 1975. Rising from a parent/coach to the US Soccer "B" License during a stellar coaching career, he led his teams to an amazing 18 state youth championships and two Under-20 titles.

• His Massapequa Falcons teams were Region 1 finalists eight times, capturing the title three times and the national championship in 1986. He returned to the national championship game when he coached the Northport Elite in the 1994 finals.

• Peter was named US Youth Soccer Women’s Coach of the Year twice in 1984 and 1997, a feat no other coach has achieved for either men or women!

• Beyond coaching club, high school and college while also holding numerous leadership positions at the state level, the Babylon Village resident also served for several years as a Region 1 girls staff coach.

• Peter was a long time member of the Region 1 and National Appeals Boards; a candidate for national office and US Soccer’s Ambassador to the Women’s National Team games in Australia during which he served as head of the US delegation and represented our country in meetings with his opposite numbers from other nations.

"Peter always put the kids first in everything he did and that shines through in his legacy. I was very happy to see him being inducted into the Region 1 Hall of Fame," commented ENYYSA President Richard Christiano.

"It was a very nice induction ceremony and I was looking forward to it immensely," Peter stated. "I enjoyed all my time with Eastern New York as both a coach and an administrator. All the good players and good people that I had around me. It was a wonderful journey."

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.

Congrats to All the Teams Who Won the Challenge Cup

Congratulations to the following teams who won the Challenge Cup on June 5 and 6 at Stringham Park in LaGrange. Click on the link for a team photo and brief photo of each team:

BU10 Manhattan FC Kickers

BU11 Cedar Stars Hudson Valley

BU12 Eleftheria Pancyprian Freedom

Force FC Top Empire State Alleycats to Claim the Girls-Under-17 State Title

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

June 18, 2023-Two goals by Marina Parodo helped give Force FC 2006 NL the win over Empire State Alleycats 2006, 2-1, on June 4 at overcast Stringham Park in LaGrange. The game was the Girls-Under-17 State Open Cup final in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA).

Force coach John Duffell explained, “They came at us the entire game but we kept our defensive shape very well.”

The 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.

The State Cup was presented by LifeVac, the choking rescue device that has saved over 900 lives and counting.

Force FC will represent Eastern New York at the East Regionals from June 23 to 29 in Loudoun County, Virginia as part of the National Championship Series.

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 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 United States Youth Soccer Association. For more information, please log onto http://www.enysoccer.com/

Portland Thorns Defender Emily Menges Gives a Youth Soccer Clinic in Garden City That Benefits Charity

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Emily Menges on far right and Michelle Betos on far left with youth soccer players at the clinic

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

January 2, 2019-Portland Thorns defender Emily Menges has proven author Thomas Wolfe to be wrong as you can go home again. The Second Team National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) All-Star returned home to Garden City, Long Island and gave a clinic for 100 girls from the second through eighth grades at the St. Paul’s Athletic Complex on December 22.

“I grew up in this gym, playing pickup and soccer in the winter,” Emily said. “I remember the girls that used to come back and run clinics and I looked up to them.“

Emily grew up playing for the Garden City Centennial Soccer Club, the largest club in both the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) with over 2,100 players. Emily was on the Garden City Blue Devils, then served as captain of the Albertson Fury ’91, winning three consecutive State Open Cups from 2009 to 2011. She also played for the LIJSL Select Program, now called the Player Development Program (PDP). It was then on to Georgetown University and being drafted by Portland in 2014 and playing for the Thorns for the past five years.

The $9,800 raised from the clinic benefits the I’m Not Done Yet Foundation, set up by the Menges family, which helps adolescent and young adult patients with cancer and other serious, chronic and long-term illnesses as they transition from pediatrics to adults. The inspiration for the Foundation is Emily’s brother Bobby, who died of cancer at the age of 19 in 2017 after battling neuroblastoma for almost 15 years and is remembered for his positive energy and caring nature. The Menges family said that Bobby had a lot of things that unfortunately he was not able to accomplish due to his short life, therefore the name I’m Not Done Yet, which has now become their slogan in doing good.

“Everyone in the community knows or at least has heard of our family, our situation and the Foundation now,” Emily commented. “It’s so wonderful to have the support of the town and everybody to come here.”

Some of the Foundation’s current projects include working with NYU Winthrop Hospital Cancer Center for Kids to build a wing specifically designed for adolescents and young adults to allow for a more appropriate and comfortable setting during treatment. The I’m Not Done Yet Foundation has also partnered with the hospital to support a music therapy program and partnered with the Duke Cancer Center – Bobby was enrolled at Duke University – to fund an adolescent and young adult advisory and counseling team connecting patients with peer-to-peer resources and services to help them cope with their unique emotional and social needs. The Foundation is also sponsoring medical research.

“Bobby was my biggest fan,” she said. “He watched all my Thorns games, came out to Portland a few times and he was a ball kid for my Georgetown games. Just my biggest supporter.”

Emily was joined at the clinic by several top local soccer players, including her former Thorns teammate, Michelle Betos, who now is the goalkeeper for the archrival Seattle Reign.

“I can’t imagine what they’ve gone through,” Michelle said of the Menges family. “I can’t even put it into words. Their strength throughout has been incredible. They’ve used this tragedy to keep going with Bobby’s work, to inspire and to help others. They are amazing! I’m in awe of how they’ve done all of this and I’m honored to be a part of it.”

During the event, youth soccer players also got a chance to partake in a Q&A session with Emily, win raffle prizes (including signed jerseys from NWSL players) and get autographs.

“What’s cool is looking back because there are so many girls from Long Island in the league (NWSL),” Emily explained. “We really had a huge talent pool to grow up with. I think that makes all the difference. We were lucky to be surrounded by awesome coaches, awesome girls and it was great.”

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.

25 Players Receive Long Island Junior Soccer League Scholarships

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Back row, left to right: Cameron Beale, John Behr, Frank Pepe, Nicholas Ticali, Matthew DiLuccio, Nicholas Triano, Jack Heiser, Matthew McDonnell, Nicholas Flaim
Front row, left to right: Gina Melone, Taylor Pizzimenti, Luciana Lombardo, Mackenzie Nyitray, Olivia Rohrecker, Sydney Corda, Rebecca Root, Brittany Lewis, Kristie Roth, Megan Ricci, Gabrielle Ramirez, Morgan Weber, Alexis Richer
Camera shy: Hunter Casey, Anthony Curmi, Peter Meyer

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

July 21, 2015-With 1,500 travel teams in Suffolk, Nassau and Queens, the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) is the largest league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA). The LIJSL has a scholarship program as does sister leagues Capital District Youth Soccer League, Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League, the East Hudson Youth Soccer League, the Staten Island Youth Soccer League as well as Eastern New York itself.

The LIJSL’s scholarship program began in the early 1980’s when one boy and one girl each received a scholarship and it has grown just as soccer continues to grow in the United States. Over three decades later, the LIJSL under the direction of Scholarship Committee Chairperson Lynn Scarpati, awards college scholarships to its players based on academic and athletic achievement as well as community service. 25 LIJSL players received scholarships at the LIJSL Scholarship Breakfast on Sunday, July 17 at the Huntington Hilton in Melville. Three of the 25 winners unfortunately could not attend the ceremony as they had college preparation or military service commitments.

“The LIJSL has wonderful students and the Scholarship Committee received wonderful scholarship applications,” Chairperson Scarpati stated, “I would like to exhort all the recipients to seize opportunities, make great friends and great choices while in college. And most importantly, don’t forget the LIJSL and the values you learned on the soccer field.”

Congratulations to all the LIJSL Scholarship recipients:

• Kristie Roth attending Marywood University, Pat Grecco Scholarship
• Hunter Casey attending Wake Technical Community College, Eurosport Scholarship
• Cameron Beale attending Brockport College, Bobbi Marks Memorial Scholarship
• Brittany Lewis attending the University of Florida, Bobbi Marks Memorial Scholarship
• Gabrielle Ramirez attending the University of Pennsylvania, Bobbi Marks Memorial Scholarship
• Mackenzie Nyitray attending St. Joseph College, Eileen Frazita Memorial Scholarship
• Alexis Richer attending Syracuse University, Joseph Lombardo Memorial Scholarship
• Megan Ricci attending the University of St. Joseph in Connecticut, Michael Scarpati Memorial Scholarship
• Nicholas Ticali attending Wesleyan University in Connecticut, Michael Scarpati Memorial Scholarship
• John Behr attending Arcadia University, Matthew Scarpati Memorial Scholarship
• Sydney Corda attending Binghamton University, Miles For Matt Foundation Scholarship
• Peter Meyer attending the United States Military Academy, Miles For Matt Foundation Scholarship
• Olivia Rohrecker attending SUNY New Paltz, Carolyn Page Memorial Scholarship
• Rebecca Root attending Quinnipiac University, Sandra Atlas Bass Scholarship
• Luciana Lombardo attending Stony Brook University, Dalia Morelli Memorial Scholarship
• Frank Pepe attending St. John’s University, Frank Gorman Memorial Scholarship
• Matthew McDonnell attending Boston University, Peter C. Collins Presidential Scholarship
• Jack Heiser attending the University of Buffalo, Addie Mattei-Iaia Presidential Scholarship
• Taylor Pizzimenti attending Quinnipiac University, John Pinezich Memorial Scholarship
• Nicholas Flaim attending Stony Brook University, Michael Secko Memorial Scholarship
• Nicholas Triano attending Cooper Union, Jonathan Marc Serota Memorial Scholarship
• Anthony Curmi attending Binghamton University, Modell’s Scholarship
• Morgan Weber attending the University of Buffalo, Modell’s TOPSoccer Volunteer Scholarship
• Matthew DiLuccio attending Boston College, George Hoffman TOPSoccer Volunteer Scholarship
• Gina Melone attending Fairfield University, George Hoffman TOPSoccer Volunteer Scholarship

As the LIJSL celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2016, the previous three LIJSL Presidents, who led the league for four decades––Dick Frazita, Peter C. Collins and Addie Mattei-Iaia––were in attendance and handed out scholarships.

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.

33 Student/Athletes Receive Long Island Junior Soccer League Scholarships

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

July 21, 2022-The Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), the largest league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), distributed 33 scholarships at the LIJSL Scholarship Breakfast on Sunday, July 17 at the Huntington Hilton. These well-rounded teenagers, selected based on academic and athletic excellence plus community service, exemplify the mission of the league and its slogan of “Building Character Through Soccer.”

The LIJSL Scholarship Program began in 1981 when one boy and one girl each received a scholarship and it has grown exponentially just as soccer has grown in the United States.

"One of the events we look forward to every year is the LIJSL Scholarship Breakfast," LIJSL President Andrew Seabury said. "Recognizing these tremendous student/athletes ahead of their transition to college is always a pleasure and we know they will continue to be shining lights in their future endeavors."

New this year are the Bill Peet Memorial Scholarship and Marc Stein Memorial Scholarship, named after the LIJSL Hall of Famers and former members of the LIJSL Board of Directors.

Congratulations to all the LIJSL Scholarship recipients:

• Andre Insalco attending Fordham University, Bill Peet Memorial Scholarship

• Ashley Banta attending East Stroudsburg University, Marc Stein Memorial Scholarship

• Samir Gupte attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Jerry and Sally Marinan Memorial Scholarship

• Ashley Argento attending St. Thomas Aquinas College, Brittney Walsh Memorial Scholarship

• Katelyn Herbert attending Eastern Connecticut State University, Brittney Walsh Memorial Scholarship

• Skyla Marchesi attending the University of North Carolina, Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award Scholarship
• Yianni Leandrou attending Bentley University, Sean Urda Memorial Scholarship

• Jack O'Boyle attending the University of Miami, Peter C. Collins Presidential Scholarship
• Madison Apicella attending Adelphi University, Addie Mattei-Iaia Presidential Scholarship

• Colin Mushorn attending the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Pat Grecco Scholarship

• Jordan Abramowitz attending Suffolk Community College, Frank and Michael Vertullo Foundation Scholarship

• James Morrissey attending the University of Buffalo, Frank and Michael Vertullo Foundation Scholarship
• Charlotte Faulkner attending Oswego State, Tania Bonilla Memorial Scholarship

• Madison Gulinello attending the University of Tennessee, LIJSL Merit Scholarship

• Madison Kenning attending Adelphi University, LIJSL Merit Scholarship

• Bridget Zahradnik attending Vanderbilt University, Eileen Frazita Memorial Scholarship
• Willem Friedrichs attending Binghamton University, Joseph Lombardo Memorial Scholarship
• Mia McElwee attending McDaniel College, Michael Scarpati Memorial Scholarship
• Matthew Jerchower attending Syracuse University, Matthew Scarpati Memorial Scholarship

• Alexandra Leggio attending Adelphi University, Miles For Matt Foundation Scholarship
• Conor McGuigan attending Fairfield University, Miles For Matt Foundation Scholarship

• Nicole Nagengast attending the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Miles For Matt Foundation Scholarship

• Alyssa Schimmenti attending St. Joseph’s University, Miles For Matt Foundation Scholarship

• Marcus Stamps attending Cornell University, Miles For Matt Foundation Scholarship

• Ava Zingone attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Miles For Matt Foundation Scholarship
• Bridget Murphy attending Iona College, Carolyn Page Memorial Scholarship
• Kayleigh McGetrick attending the University of Delaware, Sandra Atlas Bass Scholarship

• Ariana Taveras attending Sacred Heart University, Frank Gorman Memorial Scholarship
• Vail Muller attending Cleveland State University, John Pinezich Memorial Scholarship
• Angelina Lent attending Stony Brook University, Michael Secko Memorial Scholarship

• Halle Brigandi attending Indiana University, George Hoffman TOPSoccer Volunteer Scholarship

• Maeve Laurie attending the University of Virginia, George Hoffman TOPSoccer Volunteer Scholarship

• Catherine Andree attending Binghamton University, LIJSL TOPSoccer Volunteer Scholarship

Eleftheria Pancyprian Freedom Win the Boys-Under-14 Challenge Cup

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

June 30, 2023-Eleftheria Pancyprian Freedom of the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL) topped Terryville United of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), 3-2, in overtime. This Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) championship game for the Boys-Under-14 Challenge Cup was played on June 3 at overcast Stringham Park in LaGrange.

Matthew Caballero scored Eleftheria Pancyprian’s two goals in regulation while Amin Nayel netted the winner in overtime.

Eleftheria Pancyprian coach Paul Kontonis said, “There were very few chances on both sides as it was a scrappy, hard-fought game.”

Terryville 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.

The Challenge Cup was presented by LifeVac, the choking rescue device that has saved over 900 lives and counting.

The Many Benefits of Youth Sports

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

September 23, 2014-The lifelong friends you’ve made. The coaches you will never forget. The fun you had with teammates which taught you there is more to sports than wins, losses and ties. They are just a few of the reasons why you wouldn’t trade your youth sports experiences for anything in the world.

But will your children enjoy similar experiences? Unfortunately, many children aren’t building memories such as these. Why?

Maybe the “win-at-all-costs” mentality that has become part of all levels of youth sports has taken much of the fun out of the game. Maybe the relentless pull of new technology creates fonder memories than they’re getting from fields of play. Whatever the reasons, we hope parents and continue to encourage their kids to continue their youth sports experiences.

Keeping kids involved in sports ensures that they at least have a chance to create those special sports memories and also contributes to their continued physical activity and all the benefits that come with it.

To help get you thinking about the ways to frame and discuss the many rewards of participating in sports to your kids, Liberty Mutual, a sponsor of the United States Youth Soccer Association, created the Insurance and Positive Coaching Alliance that has outlined four of the central benefits of youth sports participation:

• Fitness–Youth sports provide fun reasons for your kids to get off of the couch and get active.
• Friendships–Teammates often become lifelong best friends.
• Wisdom–From learning how to overcome individual challenges to how to succeed on a team, youth sports is the platform from which many of life’s most valuable lessons are learned.
• Focus–The mental preparation that it takes to succeed in youth sports provides the groundwork for success both in school and later in life.

Rocco Amoroso, recently made a Life Member by US Soccer, started a Sportsmanship Program in 1980 in the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association’s (ENYYSA) largest league, after witnessing poor sportsmanship on youth soccer fields. That program has since been copied around the world and gives playing games in Eastern New York the perspective it deserves of kids playing a game, the coaches being volunteers and the refs being human.

“So many kids who I met on the soccer field and who are now adult coaches tell me of the fun they had, the lifelong lessons that they learned in youth soccer and that they are still in touch with their teammates decades later,” commented ENYYSA President Richard Christiano.

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.

Rocco Morelli Honored as Personality of the Month in Eastern New York

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

October 3, 2017-In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. As Columbus Day approaches next week, the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to honor a proud Italian-American who has done a lot for the game, Rocco Morelli, as our Personality of the Month for October.

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Our honoree was born in Calabria on the “toe” of Italy. His father emigrated to the United States and Rocco joined him when he was 15 years old. Rocco was so good at soccer that as a teenager, he played for adult teams in the Italian-American Soccer League (IASL). During his amateur career, he scored goals for the Brooklyn Italians, Fiorentina, Inter-Giuliana, Inter-Napoli and Napoli.

For college, Rocco played two years at the College of Staten Island, where he was selected as All-American. He transferred to the University of Maryland, receiving All-American and All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) honors and made the NCAA record books in 1968, scoring four goals on four shots in the NCAA final, a 4-3 win over San Jose State. His two other goals in the NCAA tournament came on two shots in the quarterfinals vs. St. Louis University. Rocco is the only player to have ever scored six goals on only six shots of the NCAA tournament. He is still the third all-time leading scorer in the history of Maryland men's soccer, even though he played only two years for the Terrapins. He was drafted by the Washington Whips of the North American Soccer League (NASL) but the team folded before he could play a game.

So Rocco became a very successful coach, spending six years for Eastern New York’s Olympic Development Program (ODP) and six years as the head coach for the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Academy. In college soccer, Rocco coached both the New York Maritime and Polytechnic University men’s teams. With Maritime, Rocco was honored with the 2007 New York Metro NISOA chapter Sportsmanship Award and as 2010 Skyline Conference Coach of the Year. Rocco holds an “A” License plus the United Soccer Coaches State, Regional, Youth National, National, Advanced National, Premier and Professional Development licenses.

Rocco and his wife Dalia raised four children at their home in North Bellmore. Daughters Dahlia and Maria were interested in the arts while growing up while Rocco Jr. and Ettore were interested in soccer. Ironically since their father was a top goal scorer, the boys played goalkeeper for LIU Post and Molloy College respectively over a decade ago.

After Rocco’s wife Dalia died of cancer on March 1, 2004, the family has funded a LIJSL scholarship in her name for the past 14 years. Rocco was also inducted into the Eastern New York Soccer Hall of Fame in 2007 for all his good works.

While vacationing in his native country, Rocco was reading about the tens of thousands of immigrants from Libya and Tunisia who have arrived in Italy, fleeing the unrest in their home countries. Many of these immigrants did not have money or anything to occupy their time, resulting in increased crime and other associated issues in many parts of the country.

Seeing the need, Rocco gathered over 30 immigrants from eight different African countries together, purchased uniforms and soccer gear for them and provided hours of soccer training each day of his vacation for the past five summers. Rocco became the mentor and father figure for these immigrants, helping and advising them in all aspects of their life.

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Rocco on the far right with the refugees he coaches in Italy

This is in addition to his work with underprivileged kids in Hempstead, Long Island. Rocco’s free program offers all day soccer clinics for over 250 youths from ages 8 to 16. Additionally, Rocco held clinics for a series of other camps from churches and schools for another 650 kids and the players were featured on TV channel Telecare. All the players, whether in Hempstead or in Italy, receive T-shirts courtesy of Eastern New York.

Living on Marco Island, Florida today, Rocco serves as the Technical Director of the Marco Island Soccer Club. Congratulations to Rocco Morelli, Eastern New York’s Personality of the Month for October.

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.

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