National Championships
Boys-Under-12 B/W Gottschee Academy Blue Win the Regional Championship
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
July 16, 2024-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) salutes B/W Gottschee Academy Blue who won both the Boys-Under-12 State Cup and Regional titles recently.
Front row: Christian Reyes, Teo Contreras, Leonardo Atis, Colin Palazzo, Brandon Piña, Moussa Azala
B/W Gottschee Academy Blue won all five games in the State Cup, outscoring their opponents 30-2. They shut out their clubmates, B/W Gottschee Academy White, 4-0, in the State Cup final on June 1 at Stringham Park in LaGrange. It was the 72nd state championship that B/W Gottschee teams have won since the Queens club’s founding in 1951.
“Football is a simple game that tends to get complicated by odd tactics and over-coaching. Our focus as a club is to give players the ability to decide games on their own,” coach Andreas Kalpaxis explained. “The ball should always be their priority. Mastering control, handling the ball in tight spaces and taking on defenders without hesitation. Give the players the tools to master the ball and let them create their own solutions on the pitch.”
B/W Gottschee Academy Blue then won four games and lost one, outscoring the other teams, 19-5, during Regionals in West Virginia from June 27 to July 2. They shut out Beadling North Red of Pennsylvania West in the final, 3-0, to give the B/W Gottschee club its 13th Regional title.
“Our boys excelled at Regionals and deserved to be crowned champions,” Coach Kalpaxis concluded.
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/
Boys-Under-14 East Coast FC Regional Qualify For Nationals
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
July 15, 2024-East Coast FC Regional won both the Boys-Under-14 State Cup and Regional titles as they have become one of the best youth soccer teams in New York State.
“We would like to dedicate the State Cup and the Eastern Regional Championship to our beloved club mentor, Joe Misso, who was born in 1945 and passed away earlier this year,” East Coast FC coach John Kokkoris stated. “Joe always said, ‘What you put into it is what you get out of it,’ and that is what our club is built on.”
In the State Cup, they won all six games, outscoring their opponents 23 to 1. Hector Santiago scored the only goal of the final as they topped Just Play Soccer Premier, 1-0, at Stringham Park in LaGrange on June 1.
“The majority of our team has been together from the beginning, some even as young as five and six years old. They have grown up together and learned from past experiences, always showing persistency in reaching their objectives,” Coach Kokkoris said. “Their mentality has been top level from such a young age and it’s been special watching them mature and develop over the years.”
The Long Island side continued to impress at Regionals, winning four games and losing one, outscoring their opponents 10 to 5.
“In order to prepare for Regionals, we actually had a friendly with the Stony Brook LGN Thunder back in New York,” Coach Kokkoris explained. “After that friendly game, we told the boys that with the quality the two groups have, we wouldn’t be surprised if we met in the finals and that’s exactly what happened.”
The only goal of the Regional final was scored by Saul Peraza with three minutes left as East Coast got by Stony Brook LGN, 1-0, between the two teams from the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) on July 2 in West Virginia.
Kokkoris continued, “Before the Regional Final, Stony Brook LGN coach Tim Graham and I met up and watched the USA play against Uruguay in the Copa America and traded some playful banter. Congratulations to Stony Brook LGN and their fantastic program.”
Middle row, left to right-Saul Peraza, Andrew McCormack, Hunter Chilelli, Mayer Kaufman
Front row, left to right-Alejandro Lugris, Lennix Batres, Roi Lago, Hector Santiago, David Figueroa, Nico Leguizamon, Caedan McCord, Michael Keesee
East Coast FC Regional will represent Eastern New York as they play for the national championship from July 23 to 28 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Reunion, Florida.
“We are going to treat Nationals like we do any other event. Nothing changes, with 100% concentration and 100% hard work in every training session,” Kokkoris concluded, “These boys are on a mission!”
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/
Profiles and Photos of the Girls Teams That Won the State Open Cup
Profile and Photos of the Boys Teams That Won the State Open Cup
Middle Country SBMC Win the Girls-Under-19 Barbara Rodriguez Cup
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 12, 2024-With 12 players returning from the team that made it to the national championship game last year, Middle Country SBMC outlasted DUSC HS Select, 2-1, in overtime to win the Girls-Under-19 State Open Cup championship on June 2 at Stringham Park in LaGrange.
In 2023, another Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) squad, Patriots FC, won the national championship game over Middle Country as that match featured two teams from Eastern New York.
Evangeline Perdomo scored in the first minute for Middle Country in the 2024 state final and Brielle Zink scored the game-winner in overtime.
“We scored at the start of the match but it wound up being a tight game and tough to play in this heat,” explained Middle Country coach Mike Timo.
The cup’s namesake, Barbara Rodriguez, is a Northport resident who volunteered as Eastern New York’s State Cup Chairperson for 23 years from 1992 to 2014.
DUSC brought the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award back to Manhattan. Amoroso, a US Soccer Life Member who died in 2016, 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, making soccer games kinder and gentler in the process.
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/
Stony Brook LGN United Take the Girls-Under-18 Richard Christiano Cup
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 11, 2024-Stony Brook LGN United shut out Asphalt Green, 1-0, to win the Girls-Under-18 State Open Cup championship on June 2 at Stringham Park in LaGrange.
Richard Christiano, the cup’s namesake, has brought fiscal responsibility to the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) as President for the past 15 years. He also was a youth coach for the New Hyde Park Wildcats and served on the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Board of Directors for 14 years, greatly improving the LIJSL Select Program during this time.
“We played a cagey game,” stated Stony Brook LGN coach Mark Nash. “Both teams put on a very good show today.”
Rylee Valenzano scored the only goal of the game and Maddie Falkowski recorded the shutout in net.
Stony Brook LGN will be representing Eastern New York at the East Regionals from June 27 to July 3 in Charleston and Barboursville, West Virginia as part of the National Championship Series.
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/
Stony Brook LGN Rush Win the Girls-Under-17 State Open Cup
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 10, 2024-In a back-and-forth game that took over two hours to complete, the Stony Brook LGN Rush outlasted New York City FC Girls Select to win the Girls-Under-17 State Open Cup championship on June 2 at Stringham Park in LaGrange. The game was tied 3-3 at the end of regulation and 4-4 after the second overtime period. Stony Brook LGN Rush won the State Open Cup championship by prevailing, 5-3, in a penalty kick shootout.
Courtney Vercillo, Sofia Puleo, Madison Caputo, and Lauren Phillips scored Stony Brook’s four goals.
“We have a good team and had a good week of practice,” explained Stony Brook LGN coach Carlos Delcid. “We did a good job today and don’t quit. It showed in the game today.”
Stony Brook LGN will be representing the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) at the East Regionals from June 27 to July 3 in Charleston and Barboursville, West Virginia as part of the National Championship Series.
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/
FC Somers Lady Hammers Win the Girls-Under-16 Peter Masotto Cup
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 9, 2024-Paige Pena scored all four goals as the FC Somers Lady Hammers defeated the Rockville Centre Red Storm, 4-1, to win the Girls-Under-16 State Open Cup championship under sunny skies on June 2 at Stringham Park in LaGrange.
The cup’s namesake, Peter Masotto, was an East Region Hall of Famer and U.S. Soccer Life Member who volunteered as Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) President from 1984 to 2006, coached the Massapequa Falcons girls team to the 1988 national championship and died two years ago.
“It was a good game, we scored an early goal and finished the match. We’re very happy to represent Eastern New York at the Regionals,” stated FC Somers coach Milan Davidovic.
FC Somers will be playing at the East Regionals from June 27 to July 3 in Charleston and Barboursville, West Virginia as part of the National Championship Series.
Rockville Centre received the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award as determined by the game officials. Amoroso, a US Soccer Life Member who died in 2016, 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, making soccer games kinder and gentler in the process.
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/
Ballston Spa Purple Take the Girls-Under-15 Jack Bauman Cup
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 8, 2024-In a final match between two teams with colors in their names, Ballston Spa Purple bested Asphalt Green, 3-1, to win the Girls-Under-15 State Open Cup championship on June 1 at Stringham Park in LaGrange. Abigail Werner, Mariah Andrade and Taylor Delgado scored Ballston Spa’s goals.
Ballston Spa coach Andrew Werner, celebrated by the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) as our 2020 Girls Competitive Coach of the Year, explained, “Some of our players I’ve coached since they were Under-8 and they did not go to a premier club. It’s so difficult for a local club made up of volunteers to win the State Open Cup but we did it!”
Ballston Spa will represent Eastern New York at the East Regionals from June 27 to July 3 in Charleston and Barboursville, West Virginia as part of the National Championship Series.
Ballston Spa also received the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award as determined by the game officials. Amoroso, a US Soccer Life Member who died in 2016, 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, making soccer games kinder and gentler in the process.
The cup’s namesake, Jack Bauman, is considered the father of women’s soccer on Long Island as he was devoted to the Massapequa Soccer Club, Eastern New York and making sure that girls had as many opportunities to play soccer as boys did.
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/