By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 12, 2025-The Merrick/South Merrick PAL Sharks defeated East Coast FC Red, 6-1, in the Boys-Under-10 Platinum Challenge Cup final, organized by the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), on Sunday, June 1 at the Blue Sky Sports Complex in Middletown.
“The ground was heavy so that took away from our playing style,” explained Merrick/South Merrick coach Manfred Kapper. “So the game became a matter of hustle. We scored the first goal and took it from there.”
Angelo Amanna scored a three-goal hat trick, Christian Nicholson netted two goals and Nick Spataro had one to pace Merrick/South Merrick.
Coach Kapper added, “A community-driven team such as ours can sometimes be a disadvantage so that’s why I’m even more proud of this team.”
East Coast received the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award as determined by the game officials. Amoroso, a US Soccer Life Member who died nine years ago, 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, 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 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/