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

July 1, 2017-In a championship game between two teams from New York City’s most international borough, New York Kosmos 2001 of the Big Apple Youth Soccer League (BAYSL) shut out LS Select Scorpions of the Metrokids Interregional Soccer League, 2-0, to become the Kings of Queens. This Eastern New York Premier League (ENYPL) final was hosted by the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) at Stringham Park in LaGrange on June 10.

Vasilis Mastroras and Matthew Vetal scored Kosmos’ goals while keeper Peter Slifkin recorded the shutout in goal.

“We controlled the play and had quality finishing,” explained Kosmos coach Kostas Troullouris. “Our central defenders, Vasilis Mastoras and Mateo Betancur, were immense today.”

The ENYPL is America’s oldest continuous Premier League, having originally kicked off play in 2001.

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.

Regional Development School players

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
 
September 30, 2014-The Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), the largest league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) with 1,500 travel teams in Suffolk, Nassau and Queens, has announced a one-year extension of its current player development partnership with the New York Red Bulls, which provides LIJSL players exclusive access to Red Bulls training programs.

“We are extremely excited to continue our relationship with the Red Bulls,” said LIJSL President Addie Mattei-Iaia.  “Through our joint efforts on the Regional Development School and the successful summer skills camps program, we are able to provide appropriate training and positive soccer experiences for players of every ability level. The knowledge and professionalism of the Red Bulls staff is second to none, and we are proud to provide our LIJSL players access to their training programs.”

“The New York Red Bulls are very excited to announce our continuing partnership with LIJSL, an organization devoted to the development and growth of soccer on Long Island,” said New York Red Bulls Head of Commercial Operations Marc de Grandpre. “As the area’s soccer club which is dedicated to working with our local communities, we are proud to continue our relationship with the LIJSL, a group that excels in building children’s character through soccer. We are thrilled to continue our mutually-beneficial relationship.”

The Red Bulls Regional Development School is an elite training program for boys and girls ages 8 to 14 years old. The program, accessible by tryout only, offers the most talented players to progress onto Red Bulls Academy teams. For those LIJSL players who qualify, the cost of training is paid in full by the LIJSL.  

The Red Bulls will also continue as the exclusive summer camp provider for the LIJSL, running league-wide events at the Peter Collins Soccer Park in Plainview and smaller camps across Long Island hosted by some of the LIJSL’s 97 community-based soccer clubs.

Participants at the Regional Development School and camp programs will also receive a discounted ticket to attend a match at Red Bull Arena, a Red Bulls ball, t-shirt and certificate signed by the entire Red Bulls team, online training curriculum access, access to special events, first team player appearances and drop-in visits by the Red Bulls street 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.

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
 
November 22, 2017-The top four Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) teams from the Boys-Under-14 Premier Division will be playing this Saturday, November 25 at the Peter Collins Soccer Park in Plainview with a trip to Dallas on the line. The 10:00 am semifinals will feature #1 seed Hauppauge Hurricanes (6-2-1) taking on #4 seed Stony Brook Santos (3-2-4) while #2 seed Huntington Boys Club AOs play #3 seed Uniondale Aguila, both with identical 5-3-1 records. The winners of the semifinal matches will advance to the final at 1:30 pm.

Hauppauge won the State Open Cup in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) last June and will need to win two tough matches on Saturday to add to their trophy case.

This Final Four is being played as the LIJSL and the IberCup USA announced a joint agreement earlier this fall, which culminates in the opportunity for one LIJSL Boys-Under-14 Fall 2017 Premier Division team to participate in the IberCup USA 2018. The event will be held March 28–April 1 in Dallas, Texas.

“The competition for the IberCup playoffs has been extremely tight throughout the season, and is representative of the competitive level of play of these teams,” commented Steve Padaetz, LIJSL’s Director of Member Services and its Competitions Chair. “We look forward to welcoming the four advancing teams to the Final Four playoffs on Thanksgiving weekend, in what we expect will be very competitive and exciting matches.”

Through this partnership agreement, the LIJSL IberCup Champion receives an automatic invitation, and paid acceptance into the prestigious event, with the team’s hotel, meals and ground transportation costs paid for by IberCup USA. The value of the package is estimated to be more than $10,000.

“The IberCup is very excited about the partnership with such a prestigious league like the LIJSL,” stated Filipe Rodrigues, Founder and Tournament Director of the IberCup. “We welcome and look forward to seeing the LIJSL Fall League-winning team compete at the tournament.”

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

March 7, 2017-Last Friday night, March 3, during the 35th Annual Long Island Junior Soccer League Convention, four longtime volunteers who have made a huge difference on Long Island’s soccer fields––Joe Karam, Cora Fitzgerald, Michael D’Ambrosio and John Deutsch––were inducted into the LIJSL Hall of Fame. The LIJSL Hall of Fame now has 106 members.

“Each of the 2017 Hall of Fame inductees have made significant contributions to their respective clubs, the Long Island Junior Soccer League and the game of soccer on Long Island,“ stated LIJSL President Anthony Maresco. “We are proud of their accomplishments and are delighted to honor them tonight.”

From left to right: LIJSL President Anthony Maresco, Joe Karam, Cora Fitzgerald, Michael D'Ambrosio, John Deutsch

Joe Karam has been irreplaceable to the Plainedge Soccer Club for the past two decades, serving as a coach during all this time, currently coaching a Boys-Under-17 team. He has volunteered on the Plainedge Board of Directors for the past 19 years and has served as the Commissioner of the Small Fry, Pee Wee and Bantam divisions. Joe volunteered as Vice President of Plainedge from 2000 to 2005 and as club President for the past 11 years, during which he has doubled the size of the club, now boasting 1,500 players. Joe was a co-founder of the Nassau Development Program (NDP) and strengthened the Route 135 intramural league plus raised funds in 2005 to reinstall all Plainedge High School sports when the school district went on austerity. Additionally, he co-founded and continues as Registrar for the Thanksgiving Kids Helping Kids Charity Indoor Tournament which has raised over $140,000 to Long Island-based charities and families in need during the past 18 years. This amazing list of accomplishments goes on as he instituted the Shoot for the Cure fundraising event for Beast Cancer Awareness Month in October 1999 and started the Bubble Soccer Charity Tournament-Scoring Goals for Autism in support of Autism Awareness Month last April.

“The Plainedge Soccer Club is fortunate to have a volunteer like Joe. He is passionate about the game and is committed to providing the best soccer experience for everyone,“ Maresco stated.

Cora Fitzgerald began coaching her children and found a passion to give more so she served as the Terryville Soccer Club President for four years plus has been their Registrar and Field Scheduler since 2007. Additionally, she has volunteered for the LIJSL as Long Island Cup Supervisor and served on the LIJSL Convention, Player’s Arbitration and Sportsmanship Committees. She often works all night making sure that everything is perfect when the LIJSL Convention opens at the Huntington Hilton, including this past Friday evening after she was inducted into the LIJSL Hall of Fame. Even though her children have long since graduated from the LIJSL and their family home burned to the ground a few years ago, Cora continues to give an enormous amount of time to both the Terryville club and the LIJSL.

“Cora truly enjoys volunteering her time and getting involved with various programs at the league,“ President Maresco explained. “She puts 100% percent into every task and she does it all with a smile.“

Michael D’Ambrosio of Oceanside United is “a boisterous man with a heart of gold,“ according to Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association President Richard Christiano, who nominated Mike. He is Eastern New York’s Registrar, has volunteered on the LIJSL Board of Directors for the past decade and is currently Second Vice President. Mike served as Chairperson of the TOPSoccer Special Children’s Program for both Eastern New York and the LIJSL. He also volunteered as Chairperson of the LIJSL Supervisory Committee and on the Board of Directors of Oceanside United. Mike is seemingly involved with every committee there is in Oceanside, including being elected Trustee of both the Oceanside School Board and Oceanside Library Board and he was the recipient of the Kiwanis Club of Oceanside Heart of Gold Award for his unending service to the children of Oceanside.

“Michael enjoys life and puts everyone before himself. If you have a problem or need a helping hand, the first call you make is to Michael,“ LIJSL President Anthony Maresco said.

John Deutsch was nominated by the East Islip Soccer Club yet he grew up playing in the league for the Massapequa Soccer Club. In 1986, he started coaching his children in East Islip and served in the club’s Board of Directors for a decade. Whatever East Islip needed done, John has done it for the past three decades, from creating the club newsletter, running the concession stand, setting up the fields and volunteering again on East Islip’s Board of Directors.

“For someone who was leaving 15 years ago, he spends an awful lot of time at our fields on the weekends!“ commented East Islip Soccer Club President John Davis.

Maresco added, “We are fortunate to have a volunteer like John involved with our league for over 30 years, giving his time to help build a strong foundation in East Islip.“

Additionally, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano was present to honor the two Hall of Famers from Nassau County––Joe Karam and Michael D’Ambrosio––as he knows both personally. Mangano said, “Joe and Michael are wonderful examples what the LIJSL is all about, making a better life for our kids. Joe saw to it that a sump was converted into a soccer field, which was the first time we did that in Nassau County. He’s a dynamic fundraiser and workaholic. You’re also really blessed to have a great volunteer like Mike as I have not seen many people work as hard as he does!“

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

October 6, 2016-Volunteers are the backbone of youth soccer. The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is fortunate enough to have over 25,000 volunteers whose endless work, which is not compensated, helps keep the costs of participating in youth soccer low for many soccer families.

Eastern New York is very pleased to announce that Jennifer Graham of the Valley Stream Soccer Club is being honored as our 2016 Volunteer of the Year. Jennifer grew up in Valley Stream, playing for the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) club. She started volunteering with the Valley Stream Soccer Club as a parent, when her oldest daughter began playing at the Micros level, and her love for children, soccer and her hometown led her to become a coach and to be elected to the soccer club’s Board of Directors.

In the four years she has been a Board member, registration is the soccer club has increased exponentially from 400 to over 1,000 players. Jennifer is now Valley Stream’s First Vice President and Intramural Coordinator.

Her friend, club Secretary Erica Mitchell, nominated her and wrote, “Jennifer is the glue who holds our club together and it is so incredible how effortless she makes it look…Parents feel comfortable and confident talking to Jennifer. She makes every single player and parent feel welcome and that they are important and valuable members of the soccer club. It seems like she cannot go anywhere in the community without being recognized.“

Additionally, Jennifer finds the time to volunteer as a Girl Scout leader and with the local PTA. She will be formally honored by Eastern New York at our Holiday Party on Sunday, December 4 at Marina del Rey in the Bronx.

Congratulations to Jennifer Graham, Eastern New York’s 2016 Volunteer of the Year.

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

From left to right: Eastern New York State Adult Soccer Association First Vice President Albino Guimaraes, Region 1 Regional Deputy Director Burt Wilkes, 2015 Hall of Fame inductee Gregg Knight and Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association President Richard Christiano.

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

December 10, 2015-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and Eastern New York State Adult Soccer Association are pleased to announce that Gregg Knight has been inducted into the Eastern New York Soccer Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony took place at our 2015 Holiday Party on December 6 at Marina del Rey in the Bronx.

Gregg was an intramural coach in the Merrick Police Athletic League (PAL) from 1987 to 1994 and was a travel team coach with the Merrick Magic of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) from 1994 to 2002. The Magic were one of the top teams in New York during the 1990’s, winning Eastern New York’s State Open Cup twice, finalists two other years plus won the Region 1 Premier League and Tampa Bay Sun Bowl. Gregg served as President of Merrick PAL for a decade, starting their Sportsmanship Program and writing a code of conduct for parents and players that still appears on all PAL applications today.

He was a Trustee on the LIJSL Board of Directors from 2000 to 2008 and volunteered on the committees for Player Arbitration, the Waldbaum’s Challenge and the LIJSL Convention. For all this volunteering, he was inducted into the LIJSL Hall of Fame in 2014.

Gregg served as Vice President of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association from 2002 to 2009 and continues as a member of the State Cup Committee to this day. When players step onto the fields for the finals, they might take it for granted that the fields are lined and ready to go, the equipment is in place, the registration tables are ready, etc. All of this is done through Gregg’s leadership as he transports the signage and equipment from the ENYYSA office in Rockville Centre to the diverse State Cup venues.

“Gregg does all this on his own time, taking vacation days in order for the kids to play,” commented longtime volunteer Burt Wilkes.

If all that was not enough, he was also a member of Eastern New York’s Premier League Committee from 2006 to 2011, serving as its Director in 2009.

Congratulations to Eastern New York Hall of Famer Gregg Knight!

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.