By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
May 28, 2026-Five cheers for the red, white and blue as five of the 26 players named to the US Men’s National Team roster as we host the 2026 World Cup grew up playing in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA).
Although goalkeeper Matt Turner lived in Park Ridge, New Jersey, he crossed the state line to play club soccer in Eastern New York. Matt excelled in other sports, especially baseball, and only started playing soccer in his mid-teens.
As a 16-year-old, he tried out for and made the Clarkstown Soccer team coached by Dimitri Giatrakis that played in the Eastern New York Premier League. He played for Clarkstown for the next two years.
“Matt came and tried out, the ability was there and we just had to develop it,” Coach Giatrakis stated. “What I really like about Matt is he was a clutch player and we had him in goal with the game on the line but he was always okay with me giving lots of playing time to other keepers so they could be seen by college coaches in showcase tournaments.”
Matt now plays professional soccer for the New England Revolution of MLS.
Defender Joe Scally of Lake Grove played for Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) teams Sachem Starburst, Sachem Falcons, Sachem Lynxes, Sachem Destroyers and the Mastic Destroyers. He also competed for the Eastern New York Olympic Development Program (ODP).
Ralph Pascarella coached Joe on ODP and stated, “Joe was very motivated, very focused, a big, strong kid with a soccer brain. He was technically sound and could play anywhere on the field.”
Joe currently plays for Borussia Moenchengladbach of the German Bundesliga.
Midfielder Giovanni Reyna grew up in Bedford, playing in the New York Soccer Club of the Westchester Youth Soccer League (WYSL). Gio is close friends and teammates with Joe Scally at Borussia Moenchengladbach.
“Gio was with us from when he was very young until he was selected for NYCFC’s Boys-Under-14 Academy team,” NYSC Academy Director Christian Gonzalez stated. “He was playing up a year and what caught everyone’s attention was his ability to make runs with the ball by unbalancing defenders with a close carry and ability to manipulate the ball. The other area of the game that was elite from the beginning was his ability to strike the ball, including from distance as well as crossing the ball with precision.”
Midfielder Tyler Adams (center in above photo) of Wappingers Falls returned to the Hudson Valley last July for the dedication of his childhood soccer field, Martz Field, as it became the Tyler Adams Soccer Pitch.
He grew up playing for the Town of Poughkeepsie Soccer Club (TOPSC) of the Hudson Valley Youth Soccer League (HVYSL). With Tyler leading the way, the Poughkeepsie Heat won the Boys-Under-14 Eastern New York Premier League in 2012. Kevin Longacre was the trainer and Andy Stamper was his coach.
“The number one thing about Tyler was his unquestioned desire to win and to be the best in training and in games. It became infectious within the team,” Coach Longacre explained. “He was the only boy playing up a year on our team. A midfielder back then too, he loved to win the ball back just like today.”
Tyler captained the red, white and blue at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and plays his club soccer for Bournemouth of the English Premier League. Additionally, Kieran McIlvenny reports that Tyler was always very generous donating cleats and soccer shirts to Kieran’s Kickin’ Back charity.
Forward Tim Weah of Rosedale played for the Rosedale Rockets Soccer Club plus travelled to other side of Queens to compete for B/W Gottschee. His uncle, Michael Duncan, is the longtime President of the Rosedale Rockets.
Michael said, “I’m extremely proud of Timothy and how he has blossomed into this wonderful player. His mother Clar coached intramurals in Rosedale, and she and I were Timothy’s first coaches. He played on the Rosedale Lions and the Rosedale Super Eagles in the LIJSL. His older sister Martha played on a Rosedale team of boys born in 1985 and his older brother, George Jr., played in our club too.”
Tim plays professionally for French Ligue 1 club Marseille.
All five ENYYSA alumni selected also were on the USA roster in the 2022 World Cup.
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/