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Eastern New York 1999 Boys South Team Wins the ODP National Championship

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Top row, from left to right: Assistant Coach Graham Radcliffe, Tyler McElhinney, Alessandro Sambone, Niall Coffey, Michael Harten, Blake Aronson, Jaime Schubauer, Marc DePasquale, Mathew Sloan.
Middle row, from left to right: Marcello Mastronardi, Ahmed El Sammak, Lenny Lopez, Nigel Hawthorne, Mariopio DiPasquale, Bryan Jimenez, Samuel Steinberg, Nick Acquafredda, Pablo Napoli Borrero, Eli Eshaghpour
Bottom row: Coach Ralph Pascarella

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

March 4, 2016-The phrase that “Defense wins championships,” could not be truer for the 1999 Boys South ODP Team from the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), who have returned home to New York as national champions. Eastern New York played two scoreless ties and won the shootout of both games at the Olympic Development Program (ODP) Nationals in Phoenix from February 26 to 28. They did it even with having a player sent off early in the second half both games so they played most of the second half and all of 30 minutes of overtime down a player.

A big hero of ODP Nationals was Eastern New York goalkeeper Tyler McElhinney of Jericho, who had a shutout during 240 minutes of play, saved three penalty kicks in the shootout and scored on both his shootout attempts. Pablo Napoli Borrero from Brooklyn scored the fifth and final penalty kick of each shootout to give Eastern New York the wins.

“This was the best group of kids I have ever coached in three decades of coaching,” commented Ralph Pascarella, head coach of 1999 Boys South ODP. “All 18 guys bought into team first and everybody played a role and contributed, through two overtime games and two shootouts. Blake Aronson and Matt Sloan were great leaders on the field and Tyler McElhinney would have gotten MVP if the Final Four had that award.”

In the semifinal against North Carolina, even though Eastern New York was down a player for much of the game, they had the better of play and advanced from the shootout, 5-4. In the championship game against Minnesota, Eastern New York had the disadvantage of playing two overtime games in 36 hours, was also down a player for most of the game, yet they won the shootout, 4-3, after another scoreless tie.

Eastern New York’s 2000 Girls South ODP Team had problems getting acclimated to the Arizona heat during the semifinal and lost, 5-0, to Cal South, the eventual champion. But our girls did much better in the third place game, shutting out Illinois, 2-0, with Maya Scholnick of Manhattan and Sarah Tappeto from Merrick scoring the goals.

“Both of our teams represented Eastern New York extremely well with a very high quality of play and great sportsmanship,” commented ODP Chairperson Jim Volpe.

ODP is considered the highest level of competition in the state. Each year, players must be re-evaluated by the ODP professional staff of coaches for a position on each age-specific team. The identification process ends each summer with the most elite players within Region 1 competing for a position on the regional team. Players are then identified by United States Soccer Federation (USSF) staff coaches for possible entry to the national teams program. Yet even those players who do not make the Region 1 or the national teams often use ODP as a springboard to college scholarships and even on to professional soccer.

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

Eastern New York Awards a Patricia Louise Masotto and Brenda Driscoll Scholarship to Chloe Antalek

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

August 20, 2018-Happy Birthday to Chloe Antalek, who is receiving a Patricia Louise Masotto and Brenda Driscoll Scholarship from the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA). The award is based on success in high school as well as community service. The scholarship’s namesakes were best friends and top women’s soccer players from Massapequa, Long Island and Eastern New York set up a scholarship in their name after they were killed by a drunk driver in 1985.

Chloe also received an East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL) Scholarship at the EHYSL Dinner of Champions last month.

Chloe has been a solid competitor and contributor to the EHYSL's soccer program, playing for both the East Hudson Academy team and the Eastern New York Olympic Development Program (ODP) for five years as well as for club team East Fishkill Fire. She was Beacon High School’s leading scorer, senior captain and All-League Select. The Wappinger Falls resident has served the soccer community very well by volunteering to train inner-city kids at the Newburgh Armory, participating in the Relay for Life “Kick ‘in Cancer” campaign and working with Beacon’s younger girls soccer programs. She is a member of both the National Honor Society member and Beacon High School Honor Roll plus had a GPA of 93%.

We wish Chloe all the best at Nyack College!

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.

Jeff Wexler Inducted in to the Eastern New York Soccer Hall of Fame

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From left to right, ENYYSA Hall of Fame Chairperson Ken Gulmi, ENYYSA Treasurer Jim Eleftherion, Jeff Wexler, ENYYSA President Richard Christiano, EHYSL President Jim Purdy

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

December 21, 2017-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that longtime volunteer Jeff Wexler was inducted into the Eastern New York Hall of Fame during our Holiday Party on December 17 at Marina del Rey in the Bronx.

The Poughkeepsie resident began his career in youth soccer 30 years ago as coach of his then five-year-old daughter Lauren’s intramural team. Quickly progressing to a travel team coach, Jeff subsequently also coached both his sons Michael and Ryan’s travel teams as well, developing them into Premier teams and contributing eight players to the starting roster of Spackenkill High School’s state championship run. Jeff also served for several years as an Academy Coach in the East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL) for Boys-Under-15 and Boys-Under-16. He recently returned to coaching, taking on a Girls-Under-6 intramural team that needed a coach.

Jeff has served on the Town of Poughkeepsie Soccer Club’s Executive Board for over 25 years and counting. He has done virtually every job in the management of the club from running the refreshment stand to managing the fields and participating in the tryouts.

In 1999, then EHYSL President Ken Gulmi asked Jeff to fill a Trustee vacancy on the East Hudson Board of Directors. He accepted and continues on the board to this day, assuming the position of 2nd Vice President and Director of the East Hudson Academy for the past seven years. In this capacity, he hires coaching staff, supervises tryouts, uniform and equipment purchases, arranges indoor winter training and secures outdoor training sites plus oversees the four tournament competitions in which each team participates. He also serves on a variety of league committees including Supervisory, Rules, Risk Management, Recognition, Sponsors, Premier League, etc. Jeff was inducted in to the EHYSL Hall of Fame in 2011.

“Jeff has been a major contributor to youth soccer in East Hudson for several decades. From his beginnings as a youth coach for the Town of Poughkeepsie through his current service as a EHYSL Board member, Jeff has been for many years one person you can count out when a task needs to get done,” commented EHYSL President Jim Purdy. “He has been and continues to be a great asset to East Hudson and the entire local soccer community.”

In addition to his large contributions at the club and league level, Jeff also served four years on the Eastern New York Executive Board as a Trustee. He was a member of the Premier League Committee, Supervisory Committee (on which he still serves) and organized the Division Champions Tournament during its two-year run. The strain of running a company and having a 200-mile commute to board meetings forced Jeff to decide not to seek reelection to a third Eastern New York term.

“His is always the first hand raised whenever a task needs to be done,” ENYYSA Treasurer Jim Eleftherion commented. “He was always a gentleman and the voice of reason and his loss to the Eastern New York Executive Board was unfortunate.”

Congratulations to 2017 Hall of Famer, Jeff Wexler!

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.

Coliseum Inferno Burn Stony Brook to Bring the Girls-Under-12 State Open Cup to Utica

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

June 9, 2017-Coliseum Inferno of the Central New York Youth Soccer League shut out Stony Brook Arsenal of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), 4-0, to win the Girls-Under-12 State Open Cup. This Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) championship game was played on Sunday, June 4 at Stringham Park in LaGrange.

After a scoreless first half, Willa Pratt scored two goals plus Logan Cookinham and Anna Rayhill each netted one to bring the state championship to Utica. Coliseum keeper Savannah Cole had the shutout in goal.

“We had the better of play and put our chances away in the second half,” explained Coliseum coach Charlie Pratt.

Coliseum will represent Eastern New York at the Regionals from June 30 to July 4 in Spotsylvania, Virginia.

Stony Brook received the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award as determined by the game officials. Amoroso, a US Soccer Life Member who died last year, started the 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.

Liberty United Volunteers Carpio and Anne Ramos Honored as Personalities of the Month in Eastern New York

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

July 2, 2018-As the United States gets ready to celebrate our 242nd birthday this week, the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) also celebrates longtime Liberty United volunteers Policarpio and Anne Ramos. The married couple are being honored as the July Personalities of the Month in Eastern New York.

Liberty United Soccer Club was founded in 2003 by a group of parents and coaches. They were looking for an opportunity for their children to play competitive soccer year-round, recognizing that the kids had talent and many had the desire to play beyond the local recreation program. Only Carpio and Anne remain from that original group, despite their youngest son having graduated from youth soccer in 2009.

Many of the founding members were from the town of Liberty but since the club is open to all Sullivan County children, that’s why they chose the name Liberty (for the founders) and United (to include athletes from other towns). They did not want to use the nickname of local rival high schools so since the Ramoses are huge Manchester United fans, they picked up their nickname of Red Devils and their club colors of red, white and black for Liberty United.

Carpio is originally from Bolivia and pursued coaching soccer in the United States to pass on his love of the world’s most popular sport to the kids of Sullivan County. Anne is a middle school teacher who knew how to teach kids but learned much more about soccer from her husband. Both increased their knowledge through taking US Soccer and United Soccer Coaches licensing courses.

The Center For Discovery in Monticello has generously allowed Liberty United to use the soccer field at their facility since the club’s founding in 2003 and the devil is in the details as they remain the only Sullivan County club in the East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL) so away games can be quite a trip.

“But our biggest challenge is that we never want to turn away eager athletes, and many of our families do not have the means to pay high registration fees,” Anne explained. "Our constant struggle is to keep fees at a minimum and allow every child to have an opportunity to play soccer. Our goal is to teach more that just foot skills. We try to instill a sense of commitment and responsibility in every player, for their future."

Liberty United teams are honored as league champs at the EHYSL Dinner of Champions seemingly every summer. Soaking up the limelight last year and again in 2018 is a team Carpio coaches, the Liberty United Red Devils, who turned heads by going from 0-10-0 to 10-0-0 in Boys-Under-14 Division 4 in 2017 and had another perfect record, 9-0-0, in Boys-Under-15 Division 2 this past spring.

"Carpio and Anne Ramos’ dedication to the Liberty United Soccer Club has been extraordinary for many years. Despite coming from one of the most northern parts of East Hudson’s geographic territory, their unwavering commitment has given the youth of Sullivan County an opportunity to play competitive soccer,” commented EHYSL President Jim Purdy. “Even though there's a great travel distance, one or both of them attend EHYSL delegate or AGM meetings and their teams have been quite successful in league play. Both the High School-Girls 2 team, Liberty United Lady Devils, as well as the Boys Under 15-Division 2 team, Liberty United Red Devils, will be at the East Hudson Dinner of Champions this month as league champs."

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 Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association Selects Mahopac’s Chris Dietz as the Girls Competitive Coach of the Year

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

November 25, 2013-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that Chris Dietz, who coaches the Mahopac Thunderhawks of the East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL), has been selected as our Girls Competitive Coach of the Year. The Mahopac resident coached the the Thunderhawks to East Hudson’s Girls-Under-13, Division 1 championship in 2013. Chris previously coached the Mahopac Goldenhawks, who received the Jose Vargas Award for exemplary sportsmanship in 2010-11.

"Our daughter Julia, previously an in-house player, began playing with Chris in the 2010-11 season," Thunderhawks team parents Brian and Nora Meade wrote in nominating Chris. "Chris worked with Julia to make sure that she quickly developed the skills needed to be successful, as well as making sure that she was quickly integrated into the team. The transition from in-house to travel can be extremely intimidating, especially for an 11-year-old. Thanks to Chris, our daughter had an amazingly positive experience and has become not only a better player, but a better person."

Chris’ wife, Erin, states that "He gives each team member individual instruction based on their strengths and weaknesses and ample playing time regardless of their abilities. Chris never raises his voice. He plays with the girls and makes practice so much fun that they want to go back."

Besides his involvement as coach, Chris and his family are actively involved in fundraising for cystic fibrosis since a team member has the disease. Each year, the team participates in Freezin’ for a Reason by jumping into Lake Mahopac to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

At this Thanksgiving time, we in Eastern New York are particularly thankful for a role model like Chris Dietz.

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.

Jefferson Cubias, Avery Joseph and Eowyn Lapp Honored With ODP Scholarships

Photos of Avery Joseph and Eowyn Lapp. Jefferson Cubias was camera-shy.

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

April 13, 2023-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that three of our Olympic Development Program (ODP) players are receiving college scholarships through the Cortlandt ODP College scholarship program.

Jefferson Cubias plays for Joga Bonita in the Metrokids Youth Soccer League. The Queens teenager wrote in his essay, “This scholarship will help me because I want to continue studying and pursue a career while in college. I also want to continue playing soccer, the sport that I love, while in college. This scholarship would help my mother financially a great deal.”

Avery Joseph plays for the East Meadow Soccer Club and attends Chaminade High School. The Roosevelt resident wrote, “I have consistently been on the Honor Roll since the 6th Grade and maintained a 3.9 GPA throughout high school while also dedicating a significant amount of time and energy to ODP and my club team. This has required a great deal of discipline, time management and hard work.”

Eowyn Lapp plays for the Saratoga-Wilton Soccer Club in the Capital District Youth Soccer League (CDYSL). The Saratoga Springs resident wrote in her essay, “Dreaming of playing professionally, I believed that playing ODP and D1 were the only ways to reach my goal. I made the ODP Regional Player Pool. Determined to be named to the ODP Regional roster the following year, I focused on improving my consistency and arial game. However, I suffered a serious eye injury followed by an ACL tear, abruptly ending the most important year in my ODP career.”

ODP is the highest level of play in each state association. Eastern New York would particularly like to thank the Cortlandt Soccer Club for funding the scholarships for these three great teenagers.

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/

Brentwood Shows Their Pride in Becoming Girls-Under-15 State Open Cup Champions

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

June 7, 2013-In their fifth year of existence, the Brentwood Pride shut out another Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) team, the West Islip Strikers, 2-0, to gain the Girls-Under-15 State Open Cup championship. The title game for state supremacy took place at Stringham Park in LaGrange on June 1.

After a scoreless first half, Brentwood’s Claudia Cagnina scored on a beautiful 20-yard shot into the upper corner of the net in the 45th minute after Edasia Martinez provided the assist. In the 62nd minute and on a feed from Mary Ohara, Tara Lyons completed the scoring after dribbling around the defense. Brentwood’s Angela DiFazio received the shutout in goal.

"The key to our game is ball possession," said Brentwood coach Nir Sveri. "The girls realized that keeping the ball at their feet would eventually create scoring chances and we were able to score twice in the second half."

Brentwood will represent the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) at the Regionals from June 28 to July 2 at the University of Rhode Island. Eastern New York is donating $2,000 to the team and paying all expense fees for the Regionals.

West Islip received the Howard Rubenstein Sportsmanship Award as selected by the game officials. Now living in Ohio, the remarkable Rubenstein was seemingly involved in every facet of New York soccer for decades and is a member of the Halls of Fame of Eastern New York, the US Amateur Soccer Association and the Long Island Junior Soccer League.

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. Eastern New York 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. Eastern New York 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.

Cedar Stars Bring the Boys-Under-12 State Open Cup Title Back to Brooklyn

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

June 8, 2017-Cedar Stars Brooklyn dominated the Boys-Under-12 State Open Cup championship game played at Stringham Park in LaGrange on Sunday, June 4. The Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL) team upended Stony Brook Red Star of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), 7-0, to win the state championship.

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

Roberth Padillapuma scored a three-goal hat trick for Cedar Stars while Angel Campos added two goals plus Adam Ahmed and Enoch Rivera each scored a goal. Cedar Stars goalkeeper Stephen Sanchez had the shutout.

“I think our overall speed of play led us to victory,” commented Cedar Stars coach Thomas McNiff.

Stony Brook did not leave the Hudson Valley empty-handed, however, as they received the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award as determined by the game officials. Amoroso, a US Soccer Life Member who died last year, started the Sportsmanship Program of the LIJSL 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.

Long Island Junior Soccer League Commands Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts

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

November 15, 2012-The Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), the largest league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), cancelled the final three weeks of its Fall Season because of the destruction from Hurricane Sandy as not all teams would be able to play because of lost fields. The shortened season also gives soccer families extra time to rebuild.

In coordination with Long Island Cares, the LIJSL held a food drive last weekend, November 10 and 11, at the Peter Collins Soccer Park in Plainview and the LIJSL office in Ronkonkoma. 2,000 lbs. of food in addition to numerous boxes of personal care and home-cleaning items were donated by soccer families.

The LIJSL’s East Islip Soccer Club is hosting an impromptu soccer tournament this weekend, November 17 and 18, named Soccer vs. Sandy. The soccer club released the following statement:

With the devastation and toll that Hurricane Sandy has left behind, many leagues have decided to cancel the rest of their season. We agree with the decision entirely but also understand there are many who may want to play and also get involved in a relief effort to help those most affected. With that in mind, we have decided to put together a mini-tournament to allow our kids to get a closing to the soccer season and help out in the relief effort as well.

An anticipated 64 youth intramural and travel teams will be playing all weekend at Westbrook Fields and Country Village Fields. All proceeds will go toward Hurricane Sandy relief efforts with the East Islip Soccer Club matching proceeds up to $5,000. The club is also interested in corporate or small business sponsors helping out as well.

"We’re looking to have a friendly match between the East Islip and West Islip Soccer Club Board of Directors this Sunday. The West Islip Soccer Club has offered tons of support for this effort by way of teams, volunteers and even fields should we need to use them," commented tournament director Jesse Maldonado.

For more information about Soccer vs. Sandy, please contact Jesse at intramural.registrar@eastislipsoccer.com or 631-559-0830.

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