By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 10, 2026-It was fitting that a squad from Long Island would win the Peter Collins Cup as the cup’s namesake volunteered as Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) President from 1977 to 2004, coached the Hicksville Minutemen to the Boys-Under-19 national finals and was a U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer and U.S. Soccer Life Member.
New York Hota Bavarian won their second consecutive state title by defeating Saratoga-Wilton, 6-1, in the Boys-Under-18 and 19 State Cup Championship on Saturday, May 30 under sunny skies at the Blue Sky Sports Complex in Middletown.
Jack Darlington, Thomas Fargione, Drew Lennon, Sean Mahoney, Jack Velatanga and Ray Zavala Pinto scored Hota’s goals.
Hota coach Damiano Diliberti said, “We have a good squad with a lot of continuity of players.”
Hota will represent the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) at Nationals from July 13 to 20 in Salt Lake City.
Saratoga-Wilton did not leave Middletown empty-handed as they received the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award as determined by the game officials. Amoroso, a US Soccer Life Member, started the LIJSL Sportsmanship Program in 1980 to improve behavior on soccer fields and it spread to Eastern New York, nationally and then to China and Ireland.
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/