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Smithtown Hotspur Win the Girls-Under-15 State Open Cup in Overtime

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

June 8, 2015-The Girls-Under-15 State Open Cup championship game on May 30 in LaGrange was a lengthy affair where one overtime goal made the difference. Smithtown Hotspur outlasted the South Merrick Lady Cyclones, 2-1, for supremacy in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and received the new Jack Bauman Cup, going to the top Girls-Under-15 team in the state. It’s appropriate that this game featured two Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) teams as Mr. Bauman is considered the father of Long Island women’s soccer since he made sure that girls had as many opportunities to play soccer as boys did on the island.

“We were fortunate enough to have a majority of the chances,” Smithtown coach J.R. Balzarini stated. “South Merrick gave us everything they had. They are very well-organized.”

Jenna Blank scored in regulation and Amanda Andriano netted the winner in the second overtime.

Smithtown received a $2,000 check from Eastern New York to defray their costs during the National Championship Series. The team will be playing in the Regionals from June 26 to 30 in Barboursville, West Virginia.

South Merrick was awarded the Howard Rubenstein Sportsmanship Award for the Fair Play they demonstrated on the field.

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.

Massapequa Rough Riders Blank Valley Stream Forest, 1-0, to Win the Boys-Under-19 State Open Cup

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

June 14, 2013-A first-half flick near the net by Will Rezin led to the only goal of the game to lead the Massapequa Rough Riders to a 1-0 win over Valley Stream Forest and the Boys-Under-19 State Open Cup at the Peter Collins Soccer Park in Plainview on June 8. The other dramatic play in the game between the two Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) teams occurred in the second half when Massapequa keeper Vincent Pellegrino saved a penalty kick.

"There was no quit in Forest as they really stepped up their play and had us under pressure in the second half. But I thought our speed of play overwhelmed them at times," commented Massapequa coach Eric Smith, described by Massapequa technical director (and longtime Hofstra men’s coach) Richard Nuttall as "one of the best young coaches in the United States."

Massapequa also received the Howard Rubenstein Sportsmanship Award. Now living in Ohio, the remarkable namesake of this award 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.

Massapequa 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.

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.

Farmingdale United Wins Region 1 Premier League and Goes For Fifth Consecutive State Open Cup Championship

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Farmingdale United after winning the 2013 State Open Cup.
Top row, left to right: Taylor Sipos, Jaime Gonzalez, Lauryn Davidson, Ashley Byrne, Katie O'Connor, Brian Mulcahy, Tatiana Franco, Erin Neville, Amanda Milazzo, Niccola Venezia, Lauren Hill and Phallon Tullis-Joyce
Middle row, left to right: Phallon's brother, Maddy Fernbach, Gabby Albano, Mackenzie Kober, Allyson Baner, Katie Gerdes, Christina Lampasi and Kelly Gerdes
Front row: Kaitlin Loughren
New to the team and not in photo: Jessica Ammendola, Adriana Mendrinos and Kali Moss

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

May 23, 2014-There looks to be no stopping Girls-Under-17 Farmingdale United, which has five State Open Cups, including the past four, all against different opponents in the championship game. The Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) team will be playing in the June 1 final against the Alleycats Elite Wildcats of the Capital District Youth Soccer League (CDYSL) at Stringham Park in LaGrange yet the Alleycats are no pushovers as they recently finished fifth in the Northeast Region Premier League (NERP).

In the Region 1 Premier League, Farmingdale again represented the LIJSL and Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) well, finishing with a perfect 9-0-0 record and outscoring opponents 26-2 to win the championship and qualify for the US Youth National League for 2014-15. Boys-Under-16 Smithtown Arsenal, the defending national champions, were the other Eastern New York and LIJSL team to win the championship of the Region 1 Premier League.

“Having a team-first attitude and the willingness to put in the hard work day in and day out has been the key to our success. The players have always wanted to work and achieve,” said Farmingdale United coach Jaime Gonzalez. “As a coach, it is such a great feeling to know that your players come into every practice and every game wanting to compete.”

Farmingdale has played 35 games in 2014 and lost just two, to Eclipse Select Elite of Illinois and Southern California’s Carlsbad United Elite. 12 Farmingdale players have committed to Division 1 colleges and three to Division 2 programs. This spring, Taylor Sipos is Farmingdale’s leading scorer with 19 goals while keeper Lauren Hill has 10 shutouts.

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 11 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.

Farmingdale United Wins Its Amazing Eighth State Championship In Taking Home the Barbara Rodriguez Cup

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

June 14, 2016-Farmingdale United of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) won seven State Open Cups and six in a row but that did not deter another LIJSL team, the Sound Beach Stingrays, from upsetting them, 2-1, in the 2015 Girls-Under-18 State Open Cup final. Which set up an enticing rematch last Saturday, June 11 at the Peter Collins Soccer Park in Plainview in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) Girls-Under-19 final for 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, and her daughter Judy Rodriguez was on hand to present the trophy to Farmingdale, 4-0 winners in the rematch.

Hope Breslin and Hope Quinonez each scored two goals to end any hope for Sound Beach in the final. Farmingdale keeper Katie Hatziyianis received the shutout in goal.

“Our team had a very good flow in this game and we certainly remembered that Sound Beach beat us last year,” explained Farmingdale coach Jaime Gonzalez. “We wanted to finish with a State Cup championship to win in our last year together, in Under-19, as we did in our first year together, as Under-10s.“

Farmingdale also added the Howard Rubenstein Sportsmanship Award, as determined by the game officials, to their overflowing trophy case. Now living in Kentucky, Mr. 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 LIJSL.

Farmingdale will again be representing Eastern New York in the Regional championship, from June 30 to July 5 in Barboursville, West Virginia, and Eastern New York will again help pay for their costs.

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.

FC Somers Razors Go to Seven Rounds in the Shootout to Capture the Boys-Under-14 State Open Cup

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

June 7, 2013-FC Somers Razors of the Westchester Youth Soccer League (WYSL) edged the Lake Grove Rampage of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) in a shootout, 5-4, to win the Boys-Under-14 State Open Cup. The game was played at Stringham Park in LaGrange on June 1.

A scoreless tie lasted through regulation and overtime before FC Somers’ Daniel Veliz, Christian Shkreli, Joey Landicino, Jordan Fein and Colin Murphy converted their kicks.

"The Lake Grove defense was superb," commented FC Somers coach Alan Brady.

FC Somers 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.

Lake Grove received the Howard Rubenstein Sportsmanship Award as selected by the game officials. Now retired, Mr. Rubenstein was seemingly involved in every facet of New York soccer 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.

Become a Soccer Referee By Attending Certification at North Shore High School

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

March 11, 2015-The Long Island Soccer Referee Association (LISRA) has been providing officials for Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) and Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) games since LISRA’s founding over four decades ago. LISRA is holding a Referee Course this spring at North Shore High School in Glen Head so those who pass will be eligible to officiate the remaining portion of the Spring Season.

“With a tremendous number of games to cover every weekend, LISRA's recruiting process is continual,” said Long Island Soccer Referee Association (LISRA) President Cathy Caldwell. “In conjunction with a great instructional staff, we are able to meet the increasing demand for soccer officials on Long Island.”

Advanced United States Soccer Federation Referee Class to become a Center Referee is now open for registration. There are only 20 seats available for the class so don’t delay, register today. Candidates who pass will also be asked to do Assistant Referee assignments.

Candidates must be 15 years old by the end of the course to be eligible and all those interested must attend all classes from 7:00 to 9:30 pm:

Monday night, April 27
Wednesday night, April 29
Monday night, May 4
Wednesday night, May 6

Classes will be held at North Shore High School, 450 Glen Cove Avenue, Glen Head, NY 11545. A mandatory parent’s meeting for candidates under 18 years old will be held at 7 pm on Monday night, April 27 and last approximately an hour.

The cost of the course is $175. Candidates must be paid to reserve a seat and will receive a uniform as part of the fee.

If you send a check (to LISRA Referee Class, 701-9 Koehler Ave, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779), it must arrive by April 24 or you will be ineligible for the the class.

As part of the Advanced Referee Course (Grade 8, not the school grade) Requirements, candidates will need to complete online modules. Please complete all 17 of the online Grade 8 Referee Course Modules prior to the first class. Candidates must enter the State Association NEW YORK – EAST and Clinic Number 1P in order to get credit for the module. Print a copy of the certificate that appears at the end of each module for your records and bring to the first day of the course.

Each module is approximately 4-6 minutes long. To complete all 17 modules on the Laws of the Game would require about 90 minutes, the length of a soccer game. The link for the Modules is http://www.ussoccer.com/Referees/Resource-Center/Online-Training/Grade-9-Referee-Course.aspx.

Candidates must receive at least 80% on the written exam at the conclusion of the course to pass.

To register, log on to http://www.lisoccerrefs.org/form_edu_registration.php?classId=68

Any questions, please contact the support group at Recruitment@LISoccerRefs.org or call the LISRA office at 631-648-8877.

Asphalt Green Receive the Barbara Rodriguez Cup as Girls-Under-19 State Cup Champs

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

June 22, 2023-In a battle between two Manhattan teams, Asphalt Green 2004 shut out Manhattan Union 2004, 1-0, in the Girls-Under-19 State Open Cup championship game on June 4 at Stringham Park in LaGrange. The State Cup was presented by LifeVac, the choking rescue device that has saved over 900 lives and counting.

Asphalt Green took home the Barbara Rodriguez Cup, which is named for the Northport, Long Island resident who volunteered as the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) State Cup Chairperson for 23 years from 1992 to 2014.

Alex Verna scored the game’s lone goal off an assist from Emily Villanueva. Keeper Sophia Trapani had the shutout in goal.

“Manhattan was more threatening after the goal as they made good adjustments but we hung on for the win,” Asphalt Green coach Elliott Tomes said.

Asphalt Green also received the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award as determined by the game officials. Amoroso, a US Soccer Life Member who died in 2016, 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, making soccer games kinder and gentler in the process.

Asphalt Green will represent Eastern New York at the East Regionals from June 23 to 29 in Loudoun County, Virginia as part of the National Championship Series.

With approximately 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 10 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer Association. For more information, please log onto http://www.enysoccer.com/

The Truth is Stranger Than Fiction

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

Association

March 31, 2021-Although I have been the Public Relations Director of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) for the past decade, I have been refereeing long before that, since Jimmy Carter was President of the United States.

When I ref our youngest travel team age groups––Under-9 and Under-10––I see cute things on the field that I have never seen before during thousands of games. The kids chasing a butterfly instead of the ball. A player deciding to sit on the grass and try and tie her shoe while active play goes on around her.

Unfortunately, there is a dark side to all this fun in our youngest age groups as these are the most prominent ages for overly exuberant parents, a few of whom think it’s the World Cup Final rather than a youth soccer game.

In two recent small-sided tournaments on Long Island, multiple coaches on multiple fields substituted or tried to sub their players on the fly. This was corrected after I went over to the coaches and asked them to get my attention before substituting a player.

Except in one Girls-Under-10 game. I saw the coach subbing players on the fly, jogged over to his bench and asked him to get my attention before substituting at a stoppage of play. His response was “I can sub on the fly.” I briefly explained that he could not in outdoor soccer.

I saw him again subbing on the fly so I again went over to his bench and told him again that he needed to get my attention during a stoppage of play before subbing players. A couple of minutes later, I caught him again subbing players on the fly so I cautioned him and told him once again to get my attention before subbing. His response was, “The girls have not been playing soccer, I’m trying to get all my players on the field and you give me a yellow card for doing so.”

Yes, I could have given him a second yellow card for that remark and dismissed him from the game but decided to walk away and concentrate on young girls innocently playing soccer. Certainly, there is a stoppage of play in youth soccer seemingly every minute so his opportunity to sub would come soon enough. I’m hoping that he looked at the tournament rules after the game which read “substitutions may be made at any dead ball or stoppage, subject to the approval of the referee.”

If he did not read the tournament rules afterwards, hopefully he is reading this article.

Miraculously, the coach got my attention before subbing the rest of the game after having been cautioned.

A couple of minutes later, I was by the corner flag and one of his parents nicely said to me, “Coach got confused as he has been subbing our players on the fly this winter in indoor soccer.”

For anybody who might also be confused, here is the substitution procedure:

1. Substitute(s) stands at halfway line ready to go into game

2. There is a stoppage of play

3. Player or coach gets referee’s attention that they want to sub

4. Ref acknowledges sub

5. Substitute or coach calls player(s) from field

6. Player(s) leaves field

7. Substitute(s) enters field

8. Ref waits until sub is in position before restarting play with a whistle

As the Spring Season kicks off across Eastern New York, it’s important that all teams follow this substitution procedure, all respect the match referee and coaches not attempt to do their own thing.

With approximately 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with nine leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

A Triple Threat! Staten Island’s Gjonbalaj Triplets All Make the Regional Pool

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From left to right: Lindi, Lirim and Luan Gjonbalaj

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

August 21, 2017-Having three triplets all advance to the higher levels of a sport is about a rare as a solar eclipse.

But it just occurred in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) as three Olympic Development Program (ODP) players––Lindi, Lirim and Luan Gjonbalaj––have been selected to the Regional Pool. The Manor Heights triplets are three of the 77 Eastern New York ODP players who have made the Regional Pool.

“The boys are remarkably talented,” commented their ODP coach, Jerome Vivona. “They work hard for 90 minutes and from box-to-box. They are great teammates and each of them in camp proved they belong in the Regional Pool.”

Coach Vivona plays them across the middle as mainly attacking players. The boys have also been playing for the Cedar Stars Academy Gunners for the past four years, winning the Eastern New York Premier League (ENYPL) title in 2015 with Lirim playing as forward and his two brothers in the midfield. The team is now registered in the Staten Island Youth Soccer League (SIYSL).

“The triplets are great fun and they bring a whole lot of energy to the team and are very positive kids,” commented Cedar Stars coach George MacDonald. “Each have their own individual qualities but all are feisty. Lindi is very aggressive and pacy, Lirim is a great finisher and Luan is a great passer.”

Their club teammates are able to tell the triplets apart since they are with them more often, such as school in addition to soccer, but their coaches sometimes have issues figuring out who is who.

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.

Steve Meyers Receives the Dennis Botsaris Service Award in College Soccer

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

November 21, 2012-Dennis Botsaris was a beloved referee, assignor and Vice President of the New York Metro Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association (NYMISOA) before his passing from pancreatic cancer last year. He was honored in 2005 with the NYMISOA Service Award which now bears his name. At the chapter’s Annual Awards Dinner on November 12 at the Sterling in Bethpage, Steve Meyers received the 2012 Dennis Botsaris Service Award after being selected in balloting by the membership.

Steve, a member of the NYMISOA Executive Board, lives in Danbury, Connecticut and formerly resided in Briarcliff Manor. He has been refereeing for the past 18 years. In the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), he has refereed in the East Hudson Youth Soccer League, the Hudson Valley Youth Soccer League and the Long Island Junior Soccer League. With the amateurs in the Eastern New York State Senior Soccer Association, Steve has officiated the Cosmopolitan Soccer League and the Eastern District Soccer League.

"Steve is a dedicated and reliable member of our Executive Board," commented NYMISOA President John Puglisi. "He works selflessly and tirelessly for the members. He is the kind of person who is the bedrock of a voluntary organization and we are very lucky to have him with us."

Congratulations to Steve Meyers!

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.

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