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Empire State Alleycats Take the Girls-Under-13 State Open Cup Title Home to Albany

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

June 10, 2023-With the score tied at 1 at the end of the second overtime period, a penalty kick shootout was needed for the Girls-Under-13 State Open Cup championship game on June 3 at Stringham Park in LaGrange. Empire State Alleycats 2010G bested the Smithtown Kickers Slammers Maroon, 4-2, in penalty kicks to win the state championship and advance to the Regionals. The Alleycats will represent the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) at the East Regionals from June 23 to 29 in Loudoun County, Virginia as part of the National Championship Series.

Ashley Shaw scored the Alleycats’ one goal during the run of play.

Alleycats’ coach Betsy Drambour, who had seven caps for the US Women’s National Team, stated, “We played very direct. It was a hard-fought game that came down to 50-50 balls.”

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

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/

Connetquot Ronkonkoma Real FC Receive the Ray Wolfe Cup as Boys-Under-18 State Open Cup Champs

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

June 19, 2023-Connetquot Ronkonkoma Real FC defeated Two Bridges FC, 4-1, to win the Boys-Under-18 State Open Cup at overcast Stringham Park in LaGrange on June 4. The State Cup was presented by LifeVac, the choking rescue device that has saved over 900 lives and counting.

Andrew Johnson scored two goals plus Jared Kelly and Kyle Smith each added one to pace Connetquot Ronkonkoma.

The winning coach, Francisco Herrera, explained, “The majority of our boys have been together since they were six years old.”

Two Bridges FC took the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award as determined by the game officials back home to New York City. Amoroso, a US Soccer Life Member who died seven years ago, 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.

Connetquot Ronkonkoma will represent the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) at the East Regionals from June 23 to 29 in Loudoun County, Virginia as part of the National Championship Series.

The cup’s honoree, Ray Wolfe, played in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League, coached in the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL) and was State Youth Referee Administrator (SYRA) of Eastern New York for nearly a decade before passing away six years ago.

The New York Metro Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association Honors Those Who Made a Difference

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Photo of SUNY-Old Westbury women's coach Craig Newman on left
and NYMISOA Vice President Randy Vogt.

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

November 20, 2014-Founded in 1964, the New York Metro Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association (NYMISOA) has been serving colleges and junior colleges in New York City, Long Island and Westchester for the past 50 years. At the NYMISOA Annual Awards Dinner at The Sterling in Bethpage on November 17, coaches and referees who are very active in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) were honored by their peers for their contributions to soccer. The awards are based on voting by NYMISOA’s members.

Craig Newman of SUNY-Old Westbury received the Bob Blitz Sportsmanship Award for women’s soccer programs. The award’s namesake was a beloved coach and enthusiastic advocate of women’s soccer who started the LIU Post women’s soccer program a generation ago and coached the Pioneers in the 1990’s before passing away from cancer. Shortly thereafter, in 2000, Craig emigrated to the United States from England. The Franklin Square resident has coached Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Girls Select Teams, taking the girls on two tours of England. Craig has also coached the LIJSL’s Hicksville Liberty Breeze and currently coaches the New Hyde Park Lady Lynx.

“I am so pleased that NYMISOA has recognized the positive game environment created by the SUNY College at Old Westbury women’s soccer team under the direction of head coach Craig Newman and assistant coach Betty Bohringer,” said Lenore Walsh, Old Westbury's director of athletics. “This is an award that speaks volumes and I am so proud of the program.”

Ken Heller of Freeport was selected as the Official of the Year in a landslide vote. He was also NYMISOA’s first-ever recipient of the New Official of the Year Award when that award was started in 1996.

Forest Hill’s Mike Godi received the Assistant Referee of the Year Award. He too was a New Official of the Year, in 2012.

Steve Wowk received the Dennis Botsaris Service Award. The East Rockaway resident currently serves as a Director of NYMISOA. The award’s namesake, Dennis Botsaris, was a beloved referee, assignor and member of NYMISOA’s Board of Directors before his untimely passing three years ago from pancreatic cancer.

Gustavo Aguilar of the Bronx, in his second year in the chapter, was honored with the New Official of the Year Award. We in Eastern New York are very happy that these four outstanding college referees continue to officiate our youth games.

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.

LifeVac partners with Eastern NY Youth Soccer Association

This medical company saves more than lives, they save futures too

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GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK: LifeVac is proud to announce a partnership with the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association, in which they will be the Presenting Sponsor of the Inaugural season of the Eastern New York National League Conference Qualifier (ENYNLCQ). The league will feature Under-12 and Under-13 teams, both boys' and girls', with each division champion being promoted into the US Youth Soccer National League Conference.

ENYYSA and LifeVac believe all youth soccer players and clubs should have the opportunity to play and compete at the highest levels, regardless of club size and status. We support the league’s vision of “earn your place.” LifeVac will also be a sponsor of the ENY State Cup.

LifeVac believes everyone should have an equal chance at life, during a choking emergency when BLS protocol might fail. “This sponsorship is an investment in the ENY Soccer Family. We are in the business of saving lives and we believe all youth soccer teams and families should have a LifeVac. This investment in Eastern NY Youth Soccer will help save lives as all ENYNLCQ League member teams will receive a complimentary LifeVac and funds will also broaden the scope and the impact of the league in the community,” said Arthur Lih, LifeVac Founder, and CEO.

“On behalf of the entire ENY family, we are proud to have such a great and impactful Long Island NY-based company in LifeVac as a league partner. Together, we build a league and enhance the ENY State Cup and all League initiatives, while saving lives,” Jim Kilmeade, ENYNLCQ Co-Director.

Choking is currently the fourth-leading cause of preventable injury-related death. To date, LifeVac has saved 659 lives. This is an incredible milestone that demonstrates the impact LifeVac is having around the world. Our hope is that we continue to save lives and end choking tragedies everywhere. We envision a time when choking no longer takes 5,000 lives a year.

About LifeVac LLC: LifeVac is a company known for its lifesaving airway clearance device of the same name. Founded in 2010, it is based out of Nesconset, New York. It is registered with the FDA, MHRA, and Australia ARTG.

About Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association: 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. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com

The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association Celebrates Valentine’s Day

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

February 6, 2022-Our players from the East End of Long Island to the Canadian border obviously love soccer but our non-profit organization is so large that many have a name or nickname that makes the upcoming Valentine’s Day special to them:

15 players in Eastern New York have Valentine as a last name.

23 boys in Eastern New York have Valentino as a first name and 13 kids use it as their surname.

78 girls have Valentina as a first name as this name has become much more popular through the years.

Nine players definitely agree that “Love will find a way” as that number has it as their last name.

Two players are named after the Roman goddess of love. One has Venus as a middle name while one has it as a surname.

There are 61 girls in Eastern New York with Rose as either their first or middle name and 33 players with Rose as their last name.

Eight girls have Rosa as their first name and seven players have it as their last name.

Sending Flowers? Then send them to the one player with Flowers as a last name.

Six players have Sweet as their last name but nicknames of our players have included Sweet Loo, Sweet Cheeks, Sweet Pea and Sweet Baby James.

Perhaps one of these hundreds of players with a name associated with Valentine’s Day will become as famous as two other locals with a Valentine’s Day-themed name, Bobby Valentine and Rudolph Valentino. Valentine managed the New York Mets while Valentino was a heartthrob of 1920's movies.

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/

SUSA Brings the Boys-Under-16 State Open Cup Title Home to Long Island

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

June 17, 2021-SUSA FC got the better of Nirvana 360 Boca by the score of 1-0 to win the Livio D’Arpino Cup as Boys-Under-16 State Open Cup champions on Saturday, June 5 at Stringham Park in LaGrange.

The cup’s namesake, Livio D’Arpino, was an Eastern New York Hall of Famer who was seemingly involved in every level of local soccer before his untimely passing in 2002. He was the third vice president of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and the first vice president of the Eastern New York Adult Soccer Association. Livio also was President of the Italian-American Soccer League, of which he was voted a Life Member.

SUSA will represent Eastern New York at the East Regionals from June 25 to July 1 at Hammonton, New Jersey as part of the National Championship Series.

Nirvana received the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award as determined by the game officials. The namesake of the award, who died in 2016, was inducted into the Halls of Fame of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) and Eastern New York plus was honored as a Life Member by U.S. Soccer. Amoroso started the LIJSL Sportsmanship Program in 1980, it has since been copied around the world and he spoke about the benefits of Fair Play across 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 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/

Alleycats’ Claire Hutton and Alyssa Blake to Play in the CONCACAF Under-17 World Cup Qualifiers

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

April 21, 2022-Things are looking up for the Alleycats Soccer Club with a couple of its members in the limelight as spring soccer continues to roll in Albany. The club plays in several outstanding leagues and organizations including the Capital District Youth Soccer League (CDYSL), Eastern Development Program (EDP), Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and the US Youth Soccer National League.

On April 5, the club celebrated Claire Hutton and Alyssa Blake with a send-off from its girls academy players. Claire and Alyssa will be playing in the CONCACAF Under-17 World Cup qualifiers in the Dominican Republic from April 23 to May 8. Three teams from CONCACAF, composed of North America, Central America and the Caribbean, will qualify for the Women’s-Under-17 World Cup in India from October 11 to 30 of this year.

Alleycats girls academy players honor Alyssa Blake (in green in front row) and Claire Hutton (in red in front row). Photo courtesy of the Alleycats.

Claire Hutton of the Alleycats 2004 NL Red and Eastern New York's Olympic Development Program (ODP) is the first girl from the Capital Region to make any US Soccer national team since current Alleycats technical director Betsy Drambour represented the USA in the mid-80s. Claire, a midfielder, has been playing with the Alleycats for the past six years.

Alyssa Blake from Alleycats 2005 NL Red will be representing Guyana, where she has been to once, and can play for them because of her mother Alexis who was born there. Her mother created a Facebook page about Alyssa’s soccer exploits in 2019 and through that, Alyssa was invited to play for the Guyana Women’s-Under-17 team and she quickly became the starting left defender and later the team captain. Guyana is a country in South America but plays in the CONCACAF region. Alyssa has been competing for the Alleycats for the last five years and joins Kristina Maksuti (Albania) and Mariela Jacome (Ecuador) from the Alleycats who have represented national teams outside of the USA.

Claire Hutton and Alyssa Blake (photo courtesy of the Alleycats)

Earlier this month, Alleycats 2010G Academy Red went to New Jersey and won the PDA Spring Kick-Off, defeating World Class, PDA Blue, New York SC plus Match Fit in the final.

Finally, Alleycats Director of Coaching Chris Le, a Trustee on the ENYYSA Board of Directors, was recently featured on the United Soccer Coaches podcast discussing mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Chris is a licensed mental health counselor and certified school psychologist with degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and Albany State.

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/

South Shore Bulldogs Win the Boys-Under-18 Regional Championship

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

July 18, 2022-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) celebrates the South Shore Bulldogs upon winning the Boys-Under-18 Eastern Regional championship on June 30 in West Virginia.

South Shore is one of 11 teams from Eastern New York that is playing for the national championship from July 19 to 24 at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando. They went 4-0-1 at Regionals, outscoring their opponents 11 to 4.

"We were able to put together five consistent and strong performances, which is not easy to do at the youth level, especially with the quality opponents we faced all week. Anyone that was able to witness our games in person could tell what it meant to the boys,” coach Vincent Companion explained. "There was such a unified and cohesive environment within the team leading up to Regionals, I believe that played a huge part in our success. Our effectiveness in both our defensive third and our attacking third was the deciding factor for me in all five games. We gave up no more than 2-3 good chances to our opponents in each of the games, and we consistently created many good opportunities to score throughout every game. These boys earned the right to call themselves Eastern Regional Champions.”

Back row (left to right): Coach Jason Garguilo, Joaquim Johnson, Adam Lesniewski, Lucas Montalto, David Akpan, Zach Beach, Matt Star, Sean Gordon, Coach Vincent Companion

Front row (left to right): Roberto Contreras, Joey Blackton, Nick Pensavalle, Aiden Benitez, Will Devall, Tony Vigil, Jose Flores, AJ Renderos, Jose Sanabria

Camera shy: Mike Gomes, Liam Stanley

South Shore has adjusted their training times in effort to replicate the conditions they will be facing down in Orlando when they play for the national championship.

"I have never seen the boys so focused and work so hard leading up to an event. I believe this will not only help us be successful at Nationals, but this will also help prepare the boys for their upcoming college seasons. It’s a very special group and I believe they will be very successful at the next level,” Coach Companion concluded.

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 Association. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

Paul Yonick of Islip Honored as the Assistant Referee of the Year in College Soccer

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

November 20, 2012-The New York Metro Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association (NYMISOA) is made up of nearly 100 college soccer officials from New York City, Long Island and Westchester. On November 12 at the Sterling in Bethpage, NYMISOA honored those officials who particularly made a difference during the college soccer season.

Paul Yonick was selected as the NYMISOA Assistant Referee of the Year. He has been officiating for the past decade. In the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), the Islip resident has refereed in the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) in addition to doing high school games.

"Paul is extremely well-thought of by his fellow officials. He was selected in 2009 as our New Official of the Year and has backed that up with our Assistant Referee of the Year award this year," commented NYMISOA President John Puglisi.

At this Thanksgiving time, we at ENYYSA are especially thankful for having excellent officials like Paul Yonick.

Olivia Christiano Receives a Jack Bauman Scholarship From Eastern New York

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

August 17, 2019-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) congratulates Olivia Christiano, who is receiving a Jack Bauman Scholarship, which is based on success in high school as well as community service.

The scholarship’s namesake, Jack Bauman, is considered the father of women’s soccer on Long Island. He was devoted to the Massapequa Soccer Club, Eastern New York and making sure that girls had as many opportunities to play soccer as boys did in an era when girls playing sports was not as accepted as it is today.

Olivia played in the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) for the Island Trees Shooting Stars as well as the Player Development Program (PDP). The Seaford resident was an Honor Roll Student and an All-Conference soccer player at Island Trees High School and volunteered with numerous local groups including the Garden of Hope, Caroling for Cans, PB&J For the Homeless, Athletes Helping Athletes, the Key Club, Yearbook Club and Spanish Club.

She wrote in her essay, ”Being on a team has given me the skills of analytical and strategic thinking, as well as leadership skills. These skills helped me be a team player and that’s a characteristic you need when you have a career and have to work with all different types of personalities…You learn not only about the sport but new aspects on how skilled you and your teammates are both mentally and physically. It’s a great sport that I am so grateful to be involved in and can’t wait for what the future has in store.”

We wish Olivia the best studying and playing soccer at Caldwell University.

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.

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