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/