By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
July 15, 2024-East Coast FC Regional won both the Boys-Under-14 State Cup and Regional titles as they have become one of the best youth soccer teams in New York State.
“We would like to dedicate the State Cup and the Eastern Regional Championship to our beloved club mentor, Joe Misso, who was born in 1945 and passed away earlier this year,” East Coast FC coach John Kokkoris stated. “Joe always said, ‘What you put into it is what you get out of it,’ and that is what our club is built on.”
In the State Cup, they won all six games, outscoring their opponents 23 to 1. Hector Santiago scored the only goal of the final as they topped Just Play Soccer Premier, 1-0, at Stringham Park in LaGrange on June 1.
“The majority of our team has been together from the beginning, some even as young as five and six years old. They have grown up together and learned from past experiences, always showing persistency in reaching their objectives,” Coach Kokkoris said. “Their mentality has been top level from such a young age and it’s been special watching them mature and develop over the years.”
The Long Island side continued to impress at Regionals, winning four games and losing one, outscoring their opponents 10 to 5.
“In order to prepare for Regionals, we actually had a friendly with the Stony Brook LGN Thunder back in New York,” Coach Kokkoris explained. “After that friendly game, we told the boys that with the quality the two groups have, we wouldn’t be surprised if we met in the finals and that’s exactly what happened.”
The only goal of the Regional final was scored by Saul Peraza with three minutes left as East Coast got by Stony Brook LGN, 1-0, between the two teams from the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) on July 2 in West Virginia.
Kokkoris continued, “Before the Regional Final, Stony Brook LGN coach Tim Graham and I met up and watched the USA play against Uruguay in the Copa America and traded some playful banter. Congratulations to Stony Brook LGN and their fantastic program.”
Middle row, left to right-Saul Peraza, Andrew McCormack, Hunter Chilelli, Mayer Kaufman
Front row, left to right-Alejandro Lugris, Lennix Batres, Roi Lago, Hector Santiago, David Figueroa, Nico Leguizamon, Caedan McCord, Michael Keesee
East Coast FC Regional will represent Eastern New York as they play for the national championship from July 23 to 28 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Reunion, Florida.
“We are going to treat Nationals like we do any other event. Nothing changes, with 100% concentration and 100% hard work in every training session,” Kokkoris concluded, “These boys are on a mission!”
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/