Rob D

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
 
August 19, 2014-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that James Volpe has become the Olympic Development Program (ODP) Administrator. The Baldwin, Long Island resident grew up in neighboring Oceanside and has been involved in soccer his entire life.

“I’m very excited about becoming ODP Administrator and working with all the great volunteers of Eastern New York,” Jim stated.

ODP is considered the highest level of youth soccer in the state and Eastern New York is particularly proud of the success of our program. Crystal Dunn, Cari Roccaro and Oceanside’s Nicholas Gaitan are all former Eastern New York ODP graduates who have represented the United States recently in international competition.

Jim’s soccer career kicked off when he began playing for the Oceanside Dynamo in the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL) even before the Oceanside United Soccer Club was founded by Joe Goldberg and Ian McDougall in 1962. Jim then played at Oceanside High School and on the men’s team of Oceanside United in those days when soccer was not as popular on the sports landscape as it is today.

He became a coach in Oceanside United’s intramural program in 1977. He coached a half-dozen Oceanside United travel teams over the years, starting with the Oceanside Aztecs, a squad of boys born in 1970. For decades, if there was a soccer game being played in Oceanside, Jim could be spotted at the field, including at the Rudy Lamonica Indoor Tournament, the oldest indoor youth tourney in the United States, and at the Bob Schrager Memorial Long Island Cup. He attained his National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) National Diploma and has been coaching Eastern New York’s ODP for the last 12 years.

Jim’s “real job” is serving as the Manager of Summit Security Services, which provides security guards for companies in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Jim volunteered as President of Oceanside United for 1989 to 2000 and his dozen years leading Oceanside United is one of the longest reigns for a club president in Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) history.

Jim’s children, Chelsea (named after the London soccer club) and Shaun, played for the Manhattan Jaspers a decade ago and still play soccer today. Older daughter Chelsea plays co-ed soccer in Manhattan and is the varsity coach of the Fieldston School in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, near her alma mater. Shaun plays for the Oceanside United women’s team.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
 

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.