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31 Teenagers Receive Long Island Junior Soccer League Scholarships

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Back row, from left to right: Caitlyn Lopeck, Kailee Vaseghi, Erin Fitzgerald, Samantha Rini, Diana Hadjiyane, Emily Zeblinsky, Nina Macagnone, Fiona McCaul, Kaitlyn Byrnes-Cunningham, Mackenzie Griffin, Allison Kunstler.

Front row, left to right: Michael Mulqueen, Liam Farrell, Connor O’Callaghan, Nick Mastroianni, Konstantine Mendrinos, Tyler McElhinney, Matthew Barresi, Ronin Chasin, Andrew Wagner, Ryan Mehryari, Jack Zaretsky, Jack Costa, Colin Capece, Brandon Rodriguez.

Camera shy: Jaclyn Corbin, Robert Cydzik, Colin Fitzgerald, Caitlyn Humann, Leo Musacchia, Alexis Quealy

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

July 18, 2018-The Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) is the largest league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and has the largest college scholarship program. 31 scholarship recipients, selected based on academic and athletic excellence plus community service, were honored by the league at the LIJSL Scholarship Breakfast on Sunday, July 15 at the Huntington Hilton.

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 continues to grow in the United States.

New this year are the Jerry Marinan Memorial Scholarship and the Brittney Walsh Memorial Scholarships. Marinan, a LIJSL Hall of Famer, was a member of the Levittown Soccer Club for over 35 years, volunteering as coach, travel director, social activities director and president plus was heavily involved in both the LIJSL’s Liberty Cup and Waldbaum’s Cup. Walsh was ranked #22 in the 2012 graduating class at Copiague High School, was captain of the girls soccer team and winter track team plus played for Lindenhurst and Massapequa in the LIJSL. She was the personification of her yearbook quote, “Be a Fruit Loop in a World of Cheerios."

Congratulations to all the LIJSL Scholarship recipients:

• Ryan Mehryari attending Molloy College, Jerry Marinan Memorial Scholarship

• Caitlyn Lopeck attending the Sage Colleges, Brittney Walsh Memorial Scholarship

• Jack Zaretsky attending Fairleigh Dickinson University, Brittney Walsh Memorial Scholarship

• Andrew Wagner attending Adelphi University, Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award Scholarship

• Konstantine Mendrinos attending Queens College, Sean Urda Memorial Scholarship

• Kailee Vaseghi attending Molloy College, Frank and Michael Vertullo Foundation Scholarships

• Colin Capece attending Notre Dame, Peter C. Collins Presidential Scholarship

• Colin Fitzgerald attending the University of Florida, Addie Mattei-Iaia Presidential Scholarship

• Emily Zeblinsky attending Johnson & Wales University, Pat Grecco Scholarship

• Erin Fitzgerald attending Drew University, Eurosport Scholarship

• Ronin Chasin attending Cornell University, Bobbie Marks Memorial Scholarship

• Caitlyn Humann attending Fordham University, Bobbie Marks Memorial Scholarship

• Alexis Quealy attending Queens College, Bobbie Marks Memorial Scholarship

• Diana Hadjiyane attending Boston College, Eileen Frazita Memorial Scholarship

• Nina Macagnone attending Albany State, Joseph Lombardo Memorial Scholarship

• Tyler McElhinney attending Loyola University, Michael Scarpati Memorial Scholarship

• Leo Musacchia attending Stevens Institute of Technology, Matthew Scarpati Memorial Scholarship

• Matthew Barresi attending American University, Miles For Matt Foundation Scholarship

• Liam Farrell attending Cornell University, Miles For Matt Foundation Scholarship

• Connor O'Callaghan attending Quinnipiac University, Miles For Matt Foundation Scholarship

• Robert Cydzik attending Fordham University, Carolyn Page Memorial Scholarship

• Katelyn Byrnes-Cunningham attending the University of Delaware, Sandra Atlas Bass Scholarship

• Mackenzie Griffin attending Geneseo State, Dalia Morelli Memorial Scholarship

• Brandon Rodriguez attending Suffolk Community College, Frank Gorman Memorial Scholarship

• Jaclyn Corbin attending Haverford College, John Pinezich Memorial Scholarship

• Nick Mastroianni attending Trinity College, Michael Secko Memorial Scholarship

• Michael Mulqueen attending Cornell University, Jonathan Marc Serota Memorial Scholarship

• Fiona McCaul attending the University of Scranton, Modell’s Scholarship

• Samantha Rini attending Manhattan College, George Hoffman TOPSoccer Volunteer Scholarship

• Allison Kunstler attending Duke University, George Hoffman TOPSoccer Volunteer Scholarship

• Jack Costa attending Springfield College, Modell’s TOPSoccer Volunteer Scholarship

LIJSL Scholarship Chairperson Lynn Scarpati addressed the scholarship winners when she said, “You put in a lot of hard work to be here. Life is not always fair but we know that you know how to transform lemons into lemonades.”

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.

HBC Impact Win the State Championship For the Second Consecutive Year

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

June 9, 2016-Huntington’s HBC Impact of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) became the State Open Cup champs for the second consecutive year with their 7-0 win over Syracuse Development Academy East of the Mid State New York Soccer League. The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) Girls-Under-15 championship game was played on June 5 at Stringham Park in LaGrange.

As Girls-Under-15 champs, HBC brings the Jack Bauman Cup back to Huntington. The namesake of the cup is considered the father of women’s soccer on Long Island. Jack 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.

This was the fourth State Open Cup final that HBC played in, winning two and losing two.

“Winning the State Open Cup was a full team effort,” commented HBC coach Bill J. Carroll. “All 18 players on our team played at least half a game.”

Talani Barnett had a three-goal hat trick, Julia Hannon scored two goals while Lauren Mastandrea and Nicole Scudero each added one goal. Morgan Novikoff had the shutout in goal.

HBC will be attempting to win their second consecutive Regional championship when they play from June 30 to July 5 in Barboursville, West Virginia and Eastern New York will help pay for their costs.

Syracuse Development Academy received the Howard Rubenstein Sportsmanship Award as determined by the game officials. Mr. Rubenstein was President of ENYYSA from 1980 to 1984.

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.

Eddie Gamarra Inducted Into the Eastern New York Soccer Hall of Fame

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From left to right: Eastern New York First Vice President Ken Gulmi, Eddie Gamarra, Eastern New York Second Vice President Bill Smith, Eastern New York President Richard Christiano.

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

December 8, 2016-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that Eddie Gamarra has been inducted into the Eastern New York Soccer Hall of Fame. His induction took place at our 2016 Holiday Party on December 4 at Marina del Rey in the Bronx. Eddie was also honored as Eastern New York’s Personality of the Month in November 2014 and inducted into the Staten Island Youth Soccer League (SIYSL) Hall of Fame in 2009.

Our inductee has been involved in soccer his entire life. He played the world’s most popular sport while growing up in Lima, Peru and competed for the youth team of renowned club Alianza Lima as a teenager. Enthusiasm for sports runs in his family as Eddie’s father was a championship Pan American Games athlete, his mother was a big basketball fan and his older brother, Galo, was a Senior PGA Pro.

Eddie immigrated to the United States in 1965 and has lived in New Dorp for the past 46 years. In 1980, his wife Peggy learned that Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish was looking to start a soccer program and urged Eddie to apply. Without much convincing, Eddie co-founded the soccer program with Sal Parello and the OLQP Blue Jays were born. His children––Eddie Jr., Mark and Matthew––all played for the program.

Eddie has served as the soccer program’s President since that time before retiring this year with a six-year hiatus from 1988 to 1994. Eddie developed OLQP into a model program and has coached many teams, both boys and girls squads, through theyears. Currently, hundreds of children proudly wear their blue and gold soccer uniforms while playing at Miller Field.

The now 72-year-old enjoys the fun-filled times with the club as it grew into a family and he has developed lifelong friends. The annual Club Soccer Dance has become a favorite event and always ends with the crowd clamoring for "One more hour!” and Eddie joyfully complying, convincing the DJ to continue the fun.

”Eddie’s generosity is seen throughout the parish as he always finds a discreet way to cover the cost for a struggling family that can’t afford the fees. This generosity and commitment was recognized when he was honored with the Heroes and Heroines award, a program that honors local residents for their outstanding work in the community,” commented SIYSL President Bill Smith.

Eddie has served in various positions for the SIYSL, including Vice President. He now enjoys coaching the children of the players he once coached and is grateful for all the support he has received over the years.

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.

Louis Pepe Selected as the ENYYSA Volunteer of the Year

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

October 18, 2012-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that Louis Pepe has been selected as our Volunteer of the Year. Lou began playing soccer at the age of five and went on to play college soccer as well.

Lou began his affiliation with the East Islip Soccer Club of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) in 2004 when he started coaching his oldest son, Frank. He quickly immersed himself in the club, becoming a board member and is currently First Vice President.

Lou is known throughout East Islip for his “Just for Kicks” soccer program, founded by him in 2008. East Islip is one of 20 LIJSL clubs to provide a TOPSoccer Special Children’s Program. Currently, 55 Autistic kids ages 12 to 18 play for East Islip on a weekly basis during the spring and fall seasons. Two years ago, Lou started an affiliation with Stony Brook University, allowing students majoring in teaching children with special needs the opportunity

to work with soccer instructors to improve the experience for the East Islip Special Children. Lou is also very active in EJ Autism Foundation fundraisers.

Bea Huste-Petersen, who has two children with Autism that play for East Islip, commented, “Lou is the founder, the glue, the beginning, the middle and end! He greets every child individually as he or she arrives, provides an individual instructor and parents get to sit and watch.”

Lou is now being considered for Region 1 honors as well.

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 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.

Brentwood Freedom ’98 Win the Girls-Under-19 and 20 State Open Cup

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

June 21, 2017-Two Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) teams, Brentwood Freedom ’98 and Lake Grove/Newfield Tsunami, produced a memorable Girls-Under-19 and 20 State Open Cup final on Sunday, June 4 at Stringham Park in LaGrange. Brentwood won, 3-2, to take their fourth State Open Cup in the past five years.

As Girls-Under-19 and 20 champs, Brentwood wins the Barbara Rodriguez Cup. Barbara is a Hall of Fame inductee of both the LIJSL and Eastern New York who volunteered as Chairperson of the State Cup for 23 years, from 1992 to 2014.

"Our team has accomplished a lot over the past five years with most of our players committing to Division 1 and Division 2 colleges," commented Brentwood coach Chris Roche. "I believe this can be attributed to the fact the players and their families bought into us being more of a family than a team and the willingness to maintain a high level of fitness during this run!"

Brentwood will represent the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) at the Regionals from June 30 to July 4 in Spotsylvania, Virginia.

Coach Roche added, "We also have pretty much kept the team intact the last five years, which in today's soccer climate is a rarity. Again leading us back to being more of a family than a team!"

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.

What Makes a Good Youth Soccer Ref?

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Randy_in_red_for_Web-small2

Association

I have officiated with many good refs in my 45 years of refereeing. Here is my view of what makes a good youth soccer referee:

1) Arrives at the field appropriately-dressed 30 minutes before his or her first game of the day

2) Checks the field before the match and especially that both goals are anchored

3) Is pleasant to players and coaches, particularly in making a good first impression when checking in the teams

4) Knows the Laws of the Game and how they should be applied to each age group and level

5) Keeps up with play

6) Controls the game and his or her emotions, especially when others are losing their cool

7) Briefly explains the decisions that need to be explained

A referee need not be ready to do World Cup games to be an effective and respected youth soccer ref. For our 2,300 referees in Eastern New York, how many of these seven items do you fulfill?

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 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/

New Hope

By Tim Bradbury, Director of Coaching, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

For a variety of good reasons, I am approaching the new season with a feeling of hope. Perhaps it’s the 86 C license candidates that I have been teaching or perhaps it’s the 36 on the recent D license in Central Islip or even the combined 62 at Grass Roots courses help with East Meadow, Hewlett/Lawrence and South Fork United. Or perhaps it’s the combined idea that the numbers present that there are coaches keen to improve their craft.

If there is a common denominator with all the coaches above, it is that they GET the place of winning. They seem to know that the needs of the players must come first and that although the kids value competing, they value so much more before winning. Youth players value learning skills, being listened to and respected, being allowed to figure things out way more than they do winning. I would urge all parents and coaches to view the work of Dr Amanda Visek on fun maps: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4201634/

My hopes are further fueled when I see coaches employing the ideas and concepts taught on courses and the reaction of the players when they get to solve problems, think for themselves, help perfecting some skill and then encouraged to perform it in a stress-free atmosphere with a coach who gets those mistakes are simply learning moments. Far too often, players excel in practice and then struggle in games. Why is this the case? What changes?

The answer is a simple one, when game day comes around the competitive volume and the win-at-all-costs atmosphere simply takes over. Youth players no longer feel free to try things and thinking for themselves, when 12 parents decide to scream on their idea of what the player should do. The more I think about parents or coaches dictating what the player on the ball should do, the more I am baffled. Unless you can magically scan and see what they see, somehow get full knowledge of how quickly they think, can physically move, their range of flexibility and the skill set at their disposal, how can you possibly tell them what to do? It really is the most perplexing part of being a soccer coach.

So, to keep my hope alive and to try and secure a season where hope turns into promise, let’s all work to make game day a day of fun, learning and, of course, competition. But a day which belongs to the players!

Glen Cove Junior Soccer to Honor Marco Malusa at its 50th Anniversary Celebration on April 13

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The Glen Cove Wildcats, recent LIJSL Division Champions and Sportsmanship Winners

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

April 11, 2019-In 1969, two men met for the first time as they were watching a men's soccer match in Glen Cove. It was then and there that the men, Marco Malusa and Bill Doyle, came up with the idea to start a soccer league for the kids in Glen Cove. They formed the Glen Cove Junior Soccer League and the first local travel team ever, a Boys-Under-19 squad, to play in the fledgling Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), which had been founded three years earlier.

Doyle went on to become the second LIJSL President (after Ron Campbell) and was also a well-respected coach and referee before his passing from cancer a quarter-century ago.

Malusa, who was inducted into the LIJSL Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Eastern New York Hall of Fame in 2010, was irreplaceable in making Glen Cove soccer what it is today. Besides being a co-founder of the club, he co-founded the intramural program along with his wife Marie in 1975.

“Marco has done it all,“ explained current Club President Martin Shannon. “He was the treasurer, the registrar, a coach, a referee and most importantly, a lifetime board member. He's been present at board meetings and on the field for all 50 years of the club's existence. To this day, he still participates and offers his guidance and wisdom.“

Beneficiaries of the club Malusa and Doyle created are thousands of boys and girls during the past five decades including notable players such as Roberto DeLuca, Mike Grella, Danny Mueller, Stephen Mueller and Peter Zaratin, who all wore Glen Cove’s red-and-white uniforms while growing up playing in the LIJSL.

Malusa will be honored at Glen Cove’s 50th Anniversary Celebration this Saturday night, April 13 from 6 to 11 pm at the Metropolitan, 3 Pratt Boulevard in Glen Cove. The cost is $90 per person and you can pay at the door after you e-mail Martin Shannon, shannonigan4@optonline.net

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.

SUSA B06 Top Downtown United Blue, 1-0, to Win the Boys-Under-13 State Open Cup

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

June 6, 2019-The Boys-Under-13 State Open Cup final in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) on June 1 at Stringham Park in LaGrange was an even game between two excellent teams.

SUSA from Long Island shut out Manhattan-based Downtown United, 1-0, and they 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.

Owen Caraftis scored the game’s only goal while keeper Kyle Rose recorded the shutout in net.

“This championship game came down to one chance and we took it,” said SUSA coach Eddie Hackett.

SUSA also received the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award, as determined by the game officials. Amoroso, a US Soccer Life Member who died three 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.

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.

Remembering Oceanside United Co-Founder Ian McDougall

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

October 15, 2023-Just three days after Glen Cove Junior Soccer League co-founder Marco Malusa passed away, the Long Island soccer community is still in mourning as Oceanside United co-founder Ian McDougall died at the age of 92 on October 11.

Ian co-founded the Oceanside United Soccer Club in 1962 and adopted Nassau County’s colors of blue and orange as Oceanside was the first soccer club in Nassau. Oceanside United teams started playing in the German-American Junior Soccer League, now the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL).

On that first boys team in 1962 was Ian’s son Alan McDougall as well as Rudy Lamonica, who starred in an indoor tourney hosted by Oceanside United in the winters of 1968 and ’69. After Rudy’s tragic passing of bone cancer in 1970, the tournament was named after him and today, the Rudy Lamonica Indoor Tournament is the oldest indoor youth soccer tournament in the United States.

The Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) kicked off play in 1966 and as neighboring towns followed Oceanside’s lead and started soccer clubs, Oceanside United moved its travel teams to the LIJSL in the early 1980’s. The club slogan of “From tiny acorns, mighty oaks can grow“ is very appropriate as two dozen Oceanside United alumni have played professional soccer.

Ian coached Oceanside United teams for four decades up to 2003 and served as club president in the 1980’s. For all this volunteering, he was inducted into the LIJSL Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Eastern New York Hall of Fame in 2007.

A native of Hamilton, Scotland, he immigrated to the United States with his family in 1947. Ian was a member of the Clydesdale Amateurs squad that won the Lanarkshire League and John Roan Cup in 1946. He also played for the St. John’s Grammar and Hamilton Academy that reached the championship game of the Scottish Schools Cup a year later before his move to the USA.

He played professionally with teams in New York and New Jersey, captained Eintracht for four years in the German-American Soccer League (now Cosmopolitan Soccer League), and also played for the Swedish Club and Lindenhurst before ending his playing career with the Oceanside United men’s team in the Long Island Soccer Football League (LISFL).

Ian was a Lynbrook resident and an active parishioner of the Grace Lutheran Church and School in Malverne for 57 years. The viewing will be held on Friday, October 20 from 4-8 pm at the Finch & Bruns Funeral Home, 34 Hempstead Avenue, Lynbrook, NY 11563. The funeral service is at 10 am on Saturday, October 21 at the Grace Lutheran Church and School, 400 Hempstead Avenue, Malverne, NY 11565. A reception will follow in the school gymnasium following the funeral.

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 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/

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