Rob D

Eastern New York mourns the loss of Levittown Club President, Jerry Marinan. We send our deepest condolences to his family.

Flowers can be sent to:

Mangano Funeral Home, Inc. – Deer Park

1701 Deer Park Avenue
Deer Park, NY 11729

Telephone: (631) 586-3600
Email: info@manganofh.com

Driving Directions: Click Here

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

July 16, 2019-The East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL) was founded in 1976 as the West-Put Youth Soccer League since the original name was a reference to Westchester and Putnam counties. The league adopted its current name a few years later but even that moniker is not entirely accurate as much of the league’s recent growth has occurred west of the Hudson River.

With nearly 350 travel teams in eight counties, the EHYSL is the second largest league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA).

Girls High School-Division 2 Kingston Sparks

The EHYSL’s major social event of the year is the Dinner of Champions, so large that it has to be spread out over two nights. A total of over 500 players, their coaches and their parents were honored on Tuesday night, July 9 and Wednesday night, July 10 at the Villa Borghese in Wappingers Falls.

League champions from Under-12 to High School in the recently-completed Spring Season were celebrated. The EHYSL also has Under-9 to Under-11 teams but those games are purely developmental so no standings are kept.

Scholarship recipient Hannah Chang with EHYSL President Jim Purdy (left) and EHYSL Treasurer John Hayes

“This is unique as nobody else in New York State does a dinner like ours,” explained EHYSL President Jim Purdy. “Besides the players, we also want to take a moment to thank and honor our coaches and volunteers whose patience, direction and soccer experience allow our children to enjoy this great game. We also want to recognize and especially thank the parents who write the checks, do the chauffeuring, nurse the bumps and bruises and cheer on the sidelines, no matter the weather.” 

Each champion coach spoke about his or her team and introduced the players. A common theme in the coaches' speeches was we won the division title because of teamwork and overcoming adversity, which even included all the rain this past spring.

Greenwood Lake Gorillas coaches Joe Di Mattina and Katheleen Holder

Special kudos to the Boys-Under-12 Division 4 Greenwood Lake Gorillas, who did not start the Fall Season well but won their last three games and were a perfect 10-0-0 during the Spring Season. Kudos as well to the Boys-Under-15 LaGrange Warriors, who did not give up a goal in Division 1 during the entire Spring Season.

Also honored at the Dinner of Champions were EHYSL’s best and brightest who received league scholarships based on academic and athletic excellence while making their community a better place.

The Michael Goldberg Memorial Scholarship recipients are Hannah Chang (going to Case Western Reserve University) and Melissa Stok (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Caroline Voorhis (Marist College) and Daniel Wiener (University of Massachusetts-Amherst) received the Dan Herbst Memorial Scholarship.

Scholarship recipient Daniel Wiener with EHYSL First Vice President Dan Kelly

Check out Photos from the Dinner of Champions in our Gallery HERE

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 Pat Grecco

As soccer student-athletes prepare for preseason and return to their Varsity teams, there is a lot to think about with regard to preparation for playing at the collegiate level. I cannot impress the idea of starting your college search early as I’m a firm believer in the concept of “The early bird gets the worm.” 

How can soccer help you with your college search?

The obvious is, of course, getting a scholarship. Yes this is true, but more important, being a soccer player can actually help you narrow your choices and assist you with the admission process. College coaches can endorse you with Admissions and help you get into a school that you might not have been admitted to without soccer.

When do I begin?

The best time to begin is 10th grade as college coaches will identify talented sophomores. Although NCAA rules will not allow college coaches to contact you directly until the end of junior year, you can phone, e-mail, send US Mail and visit the coach. Coaches will come to see you play at tournaments and college showcases, although it is difficult for them to see you during the Varsity season since that is when they are playing as well. Post-season play for Varsity is sometimes a chance for them to see you. 

Which schools should I pick?

Pick the schools that have the right fit, have your major, suitable geographic location, size and most importantly, the best academics and the level of soccer that's right for you. Be realistic in your selections, have lots of options. Talk to your coaches and guidance counselor. Begin writing to about 30 schools, then narrow down your choices to around 10, and apply to about six. Your first communication should be a hard copy, Athletic-Academic Profile, also known as your soccer resume, with a cover letter, addressed to the coach by name. After initially writing, further communication will be done by Internet and phone.

How do I know the coach wants me?

The college coach will see you play, get in touch with you when permitted by NCAA rules, call frequently, and invite you for an “official visit” during your senior year. The coach will also get in touch with your soccer reference to discuss your level of play.

How can I get the coach to see me play?

This is called networking. You can write, fax, phone and e-mail the college coach. Also send your Varsity, club, ODP schedules as well as tournament and college showcase schedules. Perhaps you will be selected to play in a college showcase. This would be a great opportunity for you to invite the coach to watch you and evaluate your level of play. Also, go to a summer camp at a college, possibly one of the schools where you plan to apply. You can also let other college coaches know what summer camps you will be attending.

Finally, don’t sit home and wait for your phone to ring! Be proactive for yourself, and don’t let your parents take over what you need to do, that is the networking with college coaches.
 

Pat Grecco, a member of the Halls of Fame for both the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association and Long Island Junior Soccer League, has helped thousands of student-athletes gain admission to college. Her network of personal contacts among college coaches, extensive library of reference materials and a keen sense for the family's needs and wants are keys to her success. She is very happy to offer her services pro-bono for those families who cannot afford to pay her. You can visit her website at http://www.collegeboundathlete.com/

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

March 13, 2019-During the past year, the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) has donated nearly $100,000 to 21 clubs in six member leagues as part of our Field Maintenance Grant Opportunity.

“Eastern New York is very pleased to provide these grants to organizations throughout our geographic area that is being used for the upkeep of their fields and will help make the upcoming Spring Season go more smoothly,” commented ENYYSA President Richard Christiano.

The organizations that received the grants:

"The Town of Poughkeepsie Soccer Club would like to thank Eastern New York for their great support of our organization by providing us with $6,103 in grant money," said Town of Poughkeepsie Soccer Club President Bo Demczar. "With these funds, we've been able to improve our fields by helping to secure 12- to 15-foot benches for many of our playing fields as well as get additional dirt to level parts of our soccer complex. We could not have made these changes to our fields without the generous Eastern New York support!"

“The $5,000 field grant that our club has received from Eastern New York has made a great difference in our ability to provide safe playing fields for our players and visiting teams,“ explained Saratoga-Wilton Soccer Club President Ryan Shaw. “This gift allows us to focus on our number one priority: teaching young kids the fun, skills and sportsmanship in the game of soccer. Our players, coaches, families and board members all thank Eastern New York for this generous grant.“ 

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

February 3, 2022-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that Marty DiCola will be inducted into the Eastern New York Soccer Hall of Fame. The current plan is to have the ceremony in November, subject to change because of Covid protocols.

Marty he first became involved in soccer in 1988 when his son Joe tried out for a rec team in the town of Cortlandt. His coach, Roger Arnold, was a friend and teacher in the district. Roger asked Marty to be his assistant coach.

The Cortlandt Soccer Club was founded in 1993 and Marty volunteered as its President from 1995 to last year. As this non-profit organization fielded its final travel team, the Cortlandt Soccer Club is still making a difference by donating to the scholarship programs of its league, the East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL), and starting a scholarship for the ref org that serves it, the Hudson Valley Soccer Referee Association (HVSRA), as well as the Olympic Development Program of Eastern New York.

“I found myself constantly learning as much as I could about the game. I began playing every Thursday night and Sunday morning as well as becoming a successful referee,” Marty stated. “I have attended US Soccer’s B, C, D, E and F license programs over the many years I have been involved. This journey in soccer has given me a very satisfied feeling that I have given back to the youth soccer community over the years. I still have contact with many of the players who played for me, now many are adults with children of their own.” 

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

November 30, 2021-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that Jair Rambal of the North Star Soccer Club that plays in the EDP is being honored as our Boys Competitive Coach of the Year. Jair is being honored for this award along with Efrain Nino of Queens United.

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/

From left to right, inductees Alan Bodenstein, Emily Pickering Harner, Tom Lang, Ed Cody, Michael Windischmann and Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame Founder Kevin McCrudden

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

March 16, 2015-At the Huntington Hilton on Saturday night, March 7, five soccer players who grew up playing in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) were inducted in the Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame during the 33rd Annual Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Convention. Two of the five, Alan Bodenstein and Emily Pickering Harner, are from Massapequa.

“All five of our inductees are trailblazers,” said Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame Founder Kevin McCrudden. “What they have done has opened doors for others who have come after them.”

Alan Bodenstein played for the LIJSL’s Massapequa Soccer Club while growing up. He competed for the Massapequa Santos and Massapequa Athletics when not working in his family’s Massapequa Soccer Shop and the New York Cosmos as a kid, where he spraypainted the Randall’s Island dirt green so the field looked okay when Pelé made his Cosmos debut on CBS in 1975. Alan was considered the best player of the Hofstra University team of the early 1980’s. His coach at Hofstra, Tom Lang, introduced him and said “he was quick, technical, could score goals and had a great passion to be the very best.”

Alan reached his prime during the “black hole” era of American professional soccer after the original North American Soccer League folded in 1984 and before Major League Soccer kicked off in 1996. So he found his game playing indoor soccer, being drafted by the New York Arrows and playing for the New York Express, New York Kick, Fort Wayne Flames and Dayton Dynamos and sometimes the checks bounced as much as the soccer balls. He also played outdoors for the U.S. Maccabiah and Pan American Maccabiah Teams plus coached the Adelphi University women. He is now the Director of Coaching for the Fort Wayne United FC youth club in Indiana.

Emily Pickering Harner also grew up playing for the Massapequa Soccer Club. Emily won a Regional championship with the Massapequa Thunderbirds, a state title with Berner High School, four NCAA championships with the University of North Carolina and she was three times selected All-American while at Chapel Hill. The list goes on and on as Emily won four club national titles (one with the Chapel Hill Kixx, three with the Annandale Boys and Girls Club) and four Over-30 national championships with Annandale. When the U.S. Women’s National Team was founded in 1986, she became the team’s first captain and assisted on the first-ever goal, by Michelle Akers. Emily is believed to be the first American to play professionally in Italy when she competed for Juventus Feminile in 1986-87.

“I was the weird girl who played sports,” Emily stated in her inducted speech. “Our idols were female roller derby players as there were no other women’s pro sports back then.”

Emily is now her daughter’s soccer coach in Virginia.

The other Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame inductees were Tom Lang, Ed Cody and Michael Windischmann. Congratulations to all five!

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. 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.