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By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
 
June 28, 2016-Coach David Levine of the Merrick Rush credits the team’s “perseverance, determination and playing for each other as teammates“ for the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) team winning the Boys-Under-14 Eastern New York Premier League (ENYPL) Gold Division title this spring.

“We’ve had a lot of injuries and sometimes even had to play a man down for a whole match, but we worked hard regardless. Life is 80% showing up, and that we did,“ Coach Levine explained.

Merrick started the Spring Season as a Manhattan Tournament finalist plus won the LIJSL Division 1 championship two years ago. Proving that nice guys finish first, Merrick has also received the LIJSL Sportsmanship Award twice.
 
The ENYPL, the Gateway to Regional Play, is organized by the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and, at 16 years old, is the oldest continuous Premier League in the United States.
 
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 onto http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.

Getty Images photo of Rebecca Moros in white marking Megan Rapinoe during the NWSL Championship Game

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
 
October 6, 2015-Rebecca Moros has that championship feeling once again! Nearly every pro team she has played for has won the championship. If you count the titles she won in Japan, her championships even surpass the 10 titles won by her FC Kansas City teammate, Heather O’Reilly.

In 2005, Rebecca competed for the New Jersey Wildcats and won the W-League championship.

In 2006, playing as a forward, the Larchmont resident scored on a 12-yard shot in the 89th minute in the Women's Premier Soccer League final to give the expansion Long Island Fury the title, 1-0, over River Cities FC and she was named to the All-WPSL playoff team.

In 2007, she scored in the first minute on a 20-yard chip to lead the Washington Freedom to a 3-1 victory over the Atlanta Silverbacks in the W-League final in Rochester, New York.

In 2011, Rebecca played right defender as the Western New York Flash outlasted the Philadelphia Independence, 5-4, in penalty kicks after tying 1-1 in overtime to win the Women’s Professional Soccer championship.

After the WPS folded, she went to Japan to play for INAC Kobe Leonessa. She continued her role in leading her team to titles as INAC Kobe Leonessa were Nadeshiko League champions in 2012 and 2013, Nadeshiko League Cup champions in 2013, Japan/Korea Women’s League Championship winners in 2012, Empress Cup All-Japan Women’s Football Tournament Champions in 2012 and 2013 plus Mobcast Cup International Women’s Club Championship winners vs. Chelsea in 2013.

The Duke graduate returned to the United States in 2014 to play for her former youth coach, Paul Riley, when he became coach of the Portland Thorns of the National Women’s Soccer League. After the Thorns were eliminated in the semifinals, she went to the defending champions, FC Kansas City. They repeated in 2015 so Rebecca won another championship and from her defender position, she helped shut out the Seattle Reign, 1-0, in the NWSL Championship Game on October 1.

“Winning the NWSL championship is everything I've been working for over the last two years and beating a team as good as the Seattle Reign in a city I love, Portland, makes it even more special,” Rebecca stated. “Winning comes down to two things. The first is luck and that is out of my control, so I don't think much about it. The second is professionalism, and under the umbrella of the term professionalism is, consistency, responsibility for one’s performance and emotional/mental maturity. If you strive to be as professional as you can be 364 days a year, on that 365th day, when you’re playing in a championship game and it’s all on the line, it’ll be there for you and you will play well, and maybe that will be enough to win.”

The now 30-year-old played for the Olympic Development Program (ODP) of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) for an amazing six years and for Region 1 ODP for an equally impressive five years as well as many Eastern New York club teams. Rebecca played for Coach Riley with the Long Island Junior Soccer League’s HBC Fury, winners of five State Open Cup and two Region 1 titles. Prior to the Fury, she played for the Larchmont Leopards, Soundview United and Yorktown Jaguars in her native Westchester County.

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.

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
 
September 9, 2014-Newly-arrived from Stoke-On-Trent, England, Tim Bradbury coached York College to the very first City University of New York (CUNY) men’s soccer final. Tim’s Cardinals defeated John Jay College, 2-1, on October 27, 1990 in that inaugural championship game.

But Tim found his calling not in college soccer but eventually in youth soccer, dedicating himself to becoming the best coach he could be. He is a NSCAA Master Coach, has held the US Soccer A License for 23 years, US National Youth License, NSCAA National Staff Coach, Director of Education for UK Elite and 4-time presenter at the NSCAA Convention. He teaches nationally-recognized courses for both US Soccer and the NSCAA.

Tim has coached many of the top Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) teams during the past two decades. He has also been an Olympic Development Program (ODP) coach and Region 1 staff coach. Additionally, Tim is the Director of Coaching Instruction for the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), having started in this important role in 2011.

Since he arrived in New York a quarter-century ago, he says that it's a matter of the more things change in American soccer, the more things unfortunately remain the same.

“Americans’ technical ability has improved vastly but their game savvy, their tactical understanding born out of endless hours of playing in the streets is in my opinion still in need of vast improvement,” Tim stated. “While the playing standard has improved, unfortunately the attitude of many of the parents also has not and the win at all costs attitude of many soccer parents is undoubtedly hurting the game’s development.”

Tim said that players wishing to fulfill their potential should find the following:

1. A quality coach with the right credentials to play for
2. A curriculum that is developmentally appropriate and designed by an educated coach
3. Quality players to train around, with a love for the game
4. Quality training facilities
5. Be willing to spend individual time with a ball and work on their own to improve

The former semipro player went on to say that the most important items for youth players, in order, are having fun, becoming a better player, becoming a better person, and finally winning is at the bottom of his totem pole.

So how does Eastern New York define success for its youth players? Tim explained in order of importance, they are:

1. Years they spend in the game.
2. Whether it becomes a sport for life
3. Level they play at
4. If they have a desire to play and coach for life

“Tim has done a wonderful job serving as our Director of Coaching Instruction for the past four years,” commented ENYYSA President Richard Christiano. “He’s led clinics across our vast area as well as across the country emphasizing that youth players should be having fun while learning the fundamentals. Ask anybody who has attended his clinics and you will find out that his passion for the game is absolutely contagious.”

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.

Photo credit: University of Rochester

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

October 26, 2018-Things are looking up for Shayna Levy. She is a senior at the University of Rochester and was recently named the University Athletic Association (UAA) Co-Defensive Player of the Week for the 7-6-1 Yellowjackets while serving the team as its captain.

The Brewster resident will be graduating next May and already has a position lined up as an investment banker at Nomura Bank, the Japanese financial holding company, at its Manhattan office.

Shayna plays internationally for Israel, having started in central defense in 2015 for the Israel Girls-Under-19 Youth National Team and also has two caps with the Israel Women’s National Team.

In youth soccer, she played for the North Salem Jaguars and FC Lewisboro Xtreme, both of the East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL), and FC Sting 96 of the Westchester Youth Soccer League (WYSL). The Sting made it all the way to the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) Girls-Under-15 State Open Cup finals in 2012 before losing to Farmingdale United, 3-0.

At North Salem High School, Shayna led the Tigers to two quarterfinal and two semifinal playoff berths and was honored two-time All-State, two-time League Player of the Year, two-time All-Section and three-time Varsity Scholar Athlete while maintaining a 99.29 GPA.

We wish Shayna the best as she finishes her college soccer career next month.

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 onto http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.

Inductee Ed Cody on left with longtime coach Mike Ludin. Photo courtesy of the LIJSL.

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

March 18, 2015-Five soccer players who grew up playing in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) were inducted in the Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame on Saturday night, March 7 during the 33rd Annual Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Convention. The ceremony took place at the Huntington Hilton.

“All five of our inductees are trailblazers,” said Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame Founder Kevin McCrudden. “What they have done has opened doors for others who have come after them.”

Babylon’s Ed Cody joined the Huntington Boys Club (HBC) TOPSoccer Special Children’s Program in 1984 when the program was in its infancy. For three decades, he was one of the LIJSL TOPSoccer’s most consistent and giving players. He played in the Special Olympics 19 times all over New York State, winning many medals in the process. After announcing his retirement last fall, he played in the Special Olympics one last time. At the competition in Glens Falls, the stalwart defender asked to move to the forward line where he scored the goal to give HBC the gold medal.

“Ed is a team player, gives 100% all the time, cares about his teammates, especially if they do not show up for practice or games,” stated his coach for the past three decades, Mike Ludin.

Mike also described some of the other members of the HBC TOPSoccer Program. His son, Craig Ludin, has won so many gold medals in the Special Olympics that he has been inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Sarah Calichman plays for HBC as well and her brother Dan Calichman played soccer professionally in MLS and Japan’s J-League. Plus the brother of HBC’s Jeannie Higgins, Chris Higgins, currently plays for the Vancouver Canucks. So you can understand with players like Ed, Craig, Sarah and Jeannie, HBC has some wonderful talent in the program.

The other Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame inductees were former pro players Alan Bodenstein, Emily Pickering Harner, Tom Lang and Michael Windischmann. Congratulations to all five!

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.

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
 
December 29, 2017-Referees add stoppage time and blow their whistles to end the game as official time is kept on their watches, and not on the scoreboard, in nearly all soccer games played around the world. As refs have the last word on the soccer field, we’re going to give them the last word as we close out 2017.

Pro Referee is a great organization under the direction of two top refs from Latin America, President Guillermo Andrade and Vice President Jose Arana. Although its name is similar to PRO, the Professional Referee Organization that supplies the refs for pro leagues in the United States and Canada, Andrade’s organization pre-dates the other group and is committed to developing soccer referees in the New York City borough of Queens.

At Pro Referee’s 2017 Awards Gala Dinner at the Astoria Sports Complex on December 26, 11 referees were honored:

2017 Referee of the Year: Jonatan Coreas, pictured on right in photo next to MLS ref Jorge Gonzalez

Most Improved Referee: Jose Martin Arana

2017 Assistant Referee of the Year: Guillermo Jair Andrade

Most Improved Assistant Referee: Alonso Guardia

2017 Indoor Referee of the Year: Ignacio Guzman

Most Improved Indoor Referee: Joel Mendoza

Rising Star Awards: George Carrasco, Claussen Carrion, Avi Moshe, Cristian Ramirez, Alan Torres

Also receiving awards were Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) President Richard Christiano, State Youth Referee Administrator Lee Suckle and State Director of Assessment Consalvo Turchi for their enthusiastic support of the organization.

Pro Referee even has a sponsor, Robert Margulies of law firm Margulies & Associates, who explained, “Although my Spanish is pretty bad and Guillermo struggles in English, we speak the same language of hard work and dedication. My parents also came from another country and not from the United States, and English was not my first language.”

“When I started, we did not have any sponsors like Mr. Margulies. Now we have a professional organization run by Guillermo and Jose, two refs with a lot of experience,” Big Apple Youth Soccer League (BAYSL) President Luis Montoya stated. “I remember when Jorge Gonzalez, here with us tonight, started out with us and he has now been refereeing in MLS for many years. I hope SYRA Lee Suckle can find more kids in the Latino community. I would like to see the kids receiving awards tonight reffing in a big stadium one day with 60,000 people.”

Perhaps the best speech of the night was delivered by Rising Star Award recipient Avi Moshe, who said, “Thanks to Professors Andrade and Arana for teaching me as well as Luis Montoya for letting me use his fields. I will never forget the first time I used his fields.”

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.

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

July 14, 2015-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) would like to thank Jeff Wexler for his four years of service as Trustee. He will not be seeking re-election at next month’s Annual General Meeting in Nanuet.

“Travelling all over New York State on behalf of our kids playing youth soccer has been great but very tiring,” Jeff said. “I don’t know how any of our volunteers could be on the Board of Directors for over a decade and I take my hat off to them.”

Jeff, a Poughkeepsie resident, became involved with soccer when he attended Oneonta State College. He wanted to go to a football game and he was surprised when he found out the college did not play football but was big into soccer.

“I went to a men’s soccer game. There were all these fans there and the players were terrific. I was hooked and started playing recreationally at Oneonta.”

When Jeff’s daughter Lauren signed up for soccer at age five, Jeff became the coach of her intramural team, Town of Poughkeepsie All-Sport. As the girls grew, the squad became a travel team and joined the East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL). It was the start of Jeff’s quarter-century involvement with the EHYSL that continues to this day.

Jeff then coached his middle child, Michael, and then his youngest, Ryan, in the EHYSL. Ryan’s team, the Poughkeepsie Wildfire, won the ENY Premier League at Boys-Under-16 and Thruway League at Boys-Under-17.

“Eight of the players on that team won the state championship as seniors at Spackenkill High School,” Jeff explained.

15 years ago, then EHYSL President Ken Gulmi asked Jeff to serve on his Board of Directors and Jeff is now Second Vice President. That’s a lot of volunteering for a man whose “real job” is owner of a Konica Minolta copier dealership in Hyde Park.

“We at the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association would like to thank Jeff for his years of service and are very happy that he will still serve our players by continuing to volunteer with the East Hudson Youth Soccer League,” commented Eastern New York President Richard Christiano.

Jeff’s last official function as Trustee of Eastern New York was co-organizing, with Steve Padaetz, the ENY Champions Cup on June 21 at Owl Hollow Fields on Staten Island, a big event that was a smashing success.

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.