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Affiliate Leagues

Five Outstanding Teenagers Receive CJSL Scholarships

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

June 26, 2025-The Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL), the oldest league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and in all of American youth soccer, has announced the recipients of the 2025 Emil Cohill Scholarship, an annual honor awarded to top student-athletes who have demonstrated excellence both on the field and in the classroom while also giving back to their communities.

This year’s scholarship recipients are:

  • Caoimhe Crowe – SC Gjøa
  • Brandon Codallos – Eastern Queens FC
  • Isaiah Harrison – SC Gjøa
  • Alec McDonald – Manhattan Kickers Soccer Club
  • Carlos Munoz Tamay – Eleftheria Pancyprian

Each of these outstanding individuals has been awarded a $4,000 scholarship, distributed as $1,000 per year over four years of college enrollment.

The Emil Cohill Scholarship is named in memory of the Eastern New York Hall of Famer and league leader who dedicated his life to youth development and education through soccer. This year, the CJSL received a record number of applications, each one reflecting the passion, discipline and heart that defines the league.

The five teenagers represent the very best of what the CJSL strives to foster: Well-rounded individuals prepared for success in life and sport.

“The Emil Cohill Scholarship is recognition of character, resilience and potential,” said Dimitrie Draguca, CJSL League Director. “We are proud of this year’s recipients, who exemplify the values of the CJSL both on and off the field. They are great players and they are leaders in the making.”

Each scholarship is renewable annually. To receive their yearly installment, recipients must provide a copy of their college transcript along with a brief academic progress update.

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 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 US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

Jadyn Hsu Receives Eastern New York’s Masotto-Driscoll Scholarship

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

July 9, 2025-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is pleased to announce that Plainview resident Jadyn Hsu is receiving the Masotto-Driscoll Scholarship. 

The scholarship’s namesakes, Patricia Louise Masotto and Brenda Driscoll, were best friends and top women’s soccer players from Massapequa, Long Island. Eastern New York set up a scholarship in their name after they were killed by a drunk driver in 1985. The scholarship is determined by success in high school as well as community service.

At Bethpage High School, Jadyn had an amazing 106.3 GPA, was an AP Scholar With Distinction and received the Johns Hopkins Dean’s Summer Scholarship, the Long Island Science Congress Honors Award plus the Seal of Biliteracy in English and Spanish. She was a member of the National Honor Society as well as the honor societies in Math, Social Studies and World Languages. Additionally, she was President of the Science Honor Society and Vice President of the Student Civics Key Club.

This season, Jadyn played for the New York Surf as well as both of Bethpage PAL’s Under-19 teams, boys and girls. The Plainview resident somehow found the time to volunteer for Habitat For Humanity, the Red Cross, Sunrise Day Camp, CYO Basketball, Bethpage PAL and many other local organizations.

Jadyn wrote in her essay that “working with younger players is incredibly rewarding. Seeing their faces light up when they learn a new skill reminds me why I love this sport. I help with Bethpage PAL tryouts and practices, making sure every player feels welcome.”

We wish Jadyn well in studying exercise physiology on a pre-med track at Hofstra University this fall.

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 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 US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

Emma Murray Receives the Masotto-Driscoll Scholarship From Eastern New York

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

July 10, 2025-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is pleased to announce that Emma Murray of Gansevoort is receiving the Masotto-Driscoll Scholarship. 

At Saratoga Springs High School, Emma was on the High Honor Roll all four years, served as captain of the girls varsity soccer team in leading the Blue Streaks to its first Regional championship in 35 years, was a State champion in Alpine Skiing, won the Sportsmanship Award in that sport plus is an accomplished triathlete and cyclist. She was a member of and volunteered for the National Honor Society and French Honor Society, volunteers for numerous other local organizations plus plays the French Horn.

Emma was a member of the Eastern New York and Regional Olympic Development Program (ODP) teams. She wrote in her essay that “soccer is more than a sport, it’s an opportunity to demonstrate leadership, sportsmanship and responsiblity for my actions. As someone who continually yearns for improvement, it is an opportunity to quench my thirst for feedback to improve myself not only as a genuine person but as a soccer player.”

The scholarship’s namesakes, Patricia Louise Masotto and Brenda Driscoll, were best friends and top women’s soccer players from Massapequa, Long Island. Eastern New York set up a scholarship in their name after they were killed by a drunk driver in 1985. The scholarship is determined by success in high school as well as community service. 

We wish Emma the best studying and playing soccer at Haverford College this fall.

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 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 US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

Tamara Honcharuk Receives the Jack Bauman Scholarship From Eastern New York

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

July 8, 2025-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that the Bronx’s Tamara Honcharuk is receiving a Jack Bauman Scholarship. 

Tamara wrote in her essay that “the roaring engines before take-off is a stark contrast to the silence that has settled over my heart. Staring at panoramic scenery through an airplane window, I’m leaving behind more than my country, but my whole life. War has ruined everything. There is a painful emptiness where my soccer team, my home and my sense of normalcy once existed. My teammates are scattered across the globe, pushed away by the same circumstances that put me on this plane. School, old classmates, native streets full of cultural belonging––all these fragments of my life in Ukraine––now feel like far-off echoes. Who will I be so far away from all I’ve known?

Soccer is a passion which I brought through a thorny pathway here. I started to play six years ago, and ever since I appeared on the field, I have fallen in love with the sport. Ball kicking and drills became my everyday routine, where I found enthusiasm, determination and love…

During my first weeks in the new school, we discussed the Cold War using a picture of a European map. Suddenly, a classmate asked the teacher about Ukraine, who responded, ‘Well, it’s a good question. What do you guys know about Ukraine? Can we justify Russia’s actions or not?’

Tears welled up in my eyes, a blend of grief for my homeland and outrage at the thought of anyone trying to justify what was happening. It was shocking to see the world through the eyes of someone who didn’t now the devastation I felt. But then, a flicker of resolve ignited within me. If the soldiers in Ukraine could bravely fight there, I could fight for my dreams here. If civilians could remain steadfast and hopeful, I could overcome any obstscles with belief. This classroom, this foreign language I was studying, this unfamiliar city––they all became battlefields and tests of resilience. I wouldn’t let heartache break me. Instead, it would fuel me to conquer these challenges and prove my strength and spirit.”

Tamara was an Honor Roll student at the Kingsbridge Academy in the Riverdale section of the Bronx and in Odesa. She plays club soccer for Asphalt Green and her team advanced to the State Cup final the past two years.

The scholarship’s namesake, Jack Bauman, is considered the father of women’s soccer on Long Island. He was devoted to the Massapequa Soccer Club and Eastern New York. The scholarship is based on success in high school as well as community service.

We wish Tamara the best studying and playing soccer at SUNY Brockport this fall.

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 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 US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

Sophia Aurrecoechea Receives Eastern New York’s Jack Bauman Scholarship

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

July 7, 2025-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that Sophia Aurrecoechea of Islip Terrace is receiving a Jack Bauman Scholarship. 

The scholarship’s namesake is considered the father of women’s soccer on Long Island. He was devoted to the Massapequa Soccer Club and Eastern New York. The Jack Bauman Scholarship is based on success in high school as well as community service.

Sophia wrote in her essay that “soccer has shaped who I am. As a varsity goalkeeper and travel player for the Long Island Slammers, I’ve learned leadership, resilience and dedication. This year, I committed to play for Nazareth University, where I will major in Physical Therapy. My dream is to help others the way soccer has helped me. Diagnosed with dyslexia at age eight, I’ve worked hard to overcome challenges in school while thriving on the field. I refused to let a learning difference define me. Instead, I embraced it––transforming it into a source of strength. Soccer became my outlet, where effort and heart mattered most.”

Sophia was an Honor Roll student at East Islip High School and played soccer, golf, was on the track team and was captain of the flag football team.

Additionally, she received the Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards in the Girl Scouts. She volunteered with Just For Kicks, the East Islip Soccer Club’s TOPSoccer Program, and was an intramural referee for the club, both for the past six years.

Besides competing for the Long Island Slammers, she played for East Islip, the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Academy plus the Eastern New York and the Regional Olympic Development Program (ODP) teams during her youth soccer career.

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 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 US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

Kevin Gutierrez Receives Eastern New York’s Livio D’Arpino Scholarship

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

July 1, 2025-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that Jamaica resident Kevin Gutierrez is receiving a Livio D’Arpino Scholarship. 

The scholarship’s namesake was a beloved Eastern New York Vice President who was seemingly involved in every level of local soccer before his untimely passing in 2002. The Livio D’Arpino award is based on success in high school as well as community service.

Kevin had an amazing 4.0 GPA at Queens Gateway High School while taking Advanced Placement courses, served as captain of the soccer team and ran track at the Queensboro championships. He volunteered with My Brothers and Sisters Keepers (MBSK) and with the local food bank.

Kevin wrote in his essay that “soccer has played a major role in shaping who I am today. I began playing at the age of 10 under coach Cesar Juca with Juca SC, and I continue to play with the team today in the Metrokids Youth Soccer League. Through the years, I’ve also had the opportunity to compete with Las Islas Malvinas in the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League and Big Apple Youth Soccer League. These experiences have not only helped me grow as an athlete but have also taught me important life lessons in leadership, resilience and teamwork.”

We wish Kevin the best studying pre-law at Stony Brook University this fall.

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 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 US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

Luca Nagrowski Receives a Livio D’Arpino Scholarship From Eastern New York

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

July 2, 2025-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is pleased to announce that Luca Nagrowski is receiving a Livio D’Arpino Scholarship. 

Luca wrote that “hard work and giving back has always been important to me. Throughout my high school career, I have successfully managed the demanding schedule of challenging coursework, including AP, honors and dual-enrollment college business classes, as well as participating in varsity athletics, school clubs and community service, all while maintaining a high level of academic excellence. These experiences have helped me become a hard-working, driven and responsible person who is committed to succeed in all areas of my life. They have also taught me the value of education, teamwork and helping others.”

At Oceanside High School, Luca was in the National Honor Society, the National Business Honor Society, the Junior Achievement High School Heroes Initiative and the Young Investors Club. He was a member of the soccer, tennis plus track and field teams.

Luca played youth soccer with Oceanside United and Rockville Centre and his teams won the division championship plus the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Sportsmanship Award along the way. The Oceanside resident served as an assistant referee for the past four years.

The scholarship’s namesake, Livio D’Arpino, was a beloved Eastern New York Vice President who was seemingly involved in every level of local soccer before his untimely passing in 2002. The scholarship is based on success in high school as well as community service.

We wish Luca the best studying finance at the University of Tampa this fall.

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 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 US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

Staten Island Soccer Game Pays Tribute to the Remarkable Todd Hack

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

June 18, 2025-More than 100 people gathered at Staten Island Academy on June 6 for the Todd Hack Memorial Game, a friendly soccer match held in honor of the beloved longtime coach at Silver Lake Soccer Academy who tragically passed away on September 12, 2024 of a pulmonary embolism at the age of 46.

Todd Hack was a graduate of both Silver Lake Soccer Academy and Staten Island Academy, where his son, David, graduated, and daughter, Gabrielle, currently attends.

Chris Vega, President of Silver Lake Soccer Academy, called the event “more than just a soccer match, it’s a tribute to a beloved coach, mentor, and friend whose impact on our community continues to be felt every day. This event is a celebration of life, leadership, and lasting influence — and a chance for us all to give back in his name.” 

Ken Granowski, the Staten Island Academy girls’ varsity coach and Silver Lake’s director of operations, emphasized the coach’s profound influence.

“Todd had a huge impact on the girls he coached,” he stated. “He was an amazing mentor — a teacher, coach, father, and husband. He was the kind of man who tried to do it all for everybody.”

Todd’s impact extended beyond the soccer field. He was also a longtime fourth-grade teacher at PS 8 in Great Kills, known for leading integrated co-teaching (ICT) classes that combined special needs and general education students. His dedication in the classroom has been widely praised, further highlighting his commitment to mentoring youth both on and off the pitch.

Ken Granowski on left and Chris Vega on right with Todd Hack’s family

The gathering also included a special moment as Silver Lake Soccer Academy awarded a memorial scholarship in Todd’s memory to Jason Consalvo, a recent graduate of The Michael J. Petrides School and a Silver Lake player. Consalvo will continue his education when he attends SUNY Cortland this fall. Chris Vega described Consalvo as “a young man whose commitment and character reflect everything Coach Hack stood for.”Through the combined efforts of the community, family, and friends, the Todd Hack Memorial Game not only honored the legacy of a remarkable coach but also celebrated the lasting impact of a truly exceptional man.

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 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 US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log onto http://www.enysoccer.com/

Soccer Players Like Certain Numbers

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

May 27, 2025-It used to be that the position where you played on the soccer field determined your number.

Of a team’s 11 players on the field, number 1 was the goalkeeper, number 9 was the scorer and the number 10 was an attacking player who operates in the spaces between midfield and attack. Both Pelé and Messi made the number 10 jersey famous.

Times have changed and players sometimes select numbers not having to do with their position.

Manchester United and US Women’s National Team goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce was born on October 19, 1996 but when she tried to wear #19 on State Cup champion Farmingdale United over a decade ago, that number was already taken so she reversed it and has worn #91, a highly unusual number for soccer players, ever since.

Mike Ludin started the Huntington Boys Club (HBC) TOPSoccer Program in 1979 so that his son, Craig Ludin, who has Down Syndrome, would have the same opportunities to play soccer as his brothers, Bryan and Evan, did. Craig (in photo) has gone on to win so many medals in the Special Olympics in diverse sports that he was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.

Craig wears #22 as that is a good number in his family. His maternal grandmother, Hannah, was in barrack #22 when Auschwitz was liberated on January 27, 1945. She survived, unlike so many others there including her sister Lilly Kallus.

As World War II was ending, Hannah attended a wedding and a Russian soldier was very aggressive in trying to dance with her. A man named Ernest Greenfeld protected Hannah. They were both from what is now Czechia, were alone, fell in love and married two weeks later.

The Greenfelds moved to Apartment #22 on the East Side of Manhattan. They needed to earn money and Ernest started learning how to become a butcher at the Metropolitan Kosher Butcher on Metropolitan Avenue in Kew Gardens, Queens. They moved across the street to Apartment #222.

Evan’s daughter, Hailey Ludin, plays for the Commack Wildcats of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) and she also wears #22 because of all this history.

We’ll conclude this article on a much lighter note as longtime Hudson Valley Youth Soccer League (HVYSL) referee Rich Ceonzo tells the story of cautioning #17 of the blue team and then when the same player committed another foul worthy of a yellow card, he pulled out the yellow and since two yellow cards by the same player is a red card, was going to pull out the red until the player said, “That was not me!” And it was not as that foul was committed by his identical twin wearing #19. Rich thought, “Identical twins wearing virtually the same number?”

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 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 US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/