By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
March 24, 2026-The Olympic Development Program (ODP) is the highest level of play in every state association. The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) has a particularly strong ODP and three current members of the US Women’s National Team––Sam Coffey, Claire Hutton and Phallon Tullis-Joyce––all developed their skills playing Eastern New York ODP.
North Merrick resident Austin Sheehan has played Eastern New York ODP since 2020 and been selected to the ODP National Team for the second consecutive year. His soccer resume is very impressive as he helped lead New York Hota Bavarian 2008 Blue to the State Cup and Regional championship last year as well as the semifinals of Nationals.
At Calhoun High School, the 6’3” goalkeeper is a member of the National Honor Society and Honor Roll. Austin led the Colts to two consecutive conference championships, played in the Rising Juniors Game in 2024 and the Exceptional Seniors Game in 2025. He was selected both All-Region and All-State in 2025, All County in 2024 and ’25, Conference Goalkeeper of the Year in both ’24 and ’25, received the Al Freeman Best Goalkeeper Award last year and was one of the Newsday Top 100 Boys Soccer Players on Long Island.
Austin said that “the best moments of my ODP career have been the Inter-Regional events and the National event. The Inter-Regional event connected me with many new faces that have helped me turn into the player I am today, and the National event gave me the most competitive soccer I have ever played before.”
Austin will be looking to post many more shutouts in goal, and in the future it will be for the Hawks of SUNY-New Paltz starting 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, east of Route 81. ENYYSA encourages 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 US Soccer and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/