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News

Eastern New York Tabs Wayne Fortino as ODP Director

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association 

May 29, 2025-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that Wayne Fortino of Massapequa Park is the new Director of our Olympic Development Program (ODP). Wayne will be taking over for Jim Volpe, the Eastern New York Hall of Famer and ODP Director for the past 11 years, who is retiring.

“I’m honored to continue the amazing work of the outgoing ODP Director, Jim Volpe. Under his guidance, Eastern New York ODP has become one of the most respected and progressive programs in the country,” Wayne stated. “Jim’s tireless effort to make ODP more accessible and build an outstanding coaching staff is an incredible achievement.”

ODP is a high-level supplementary program where players are guaranteed to be seen by National and Regional coaches. Eastern New York ODP players try out and if selected, they train on Monday nights. Nearly all the games they play are in tournaments in New York, across the USA and sometimes even overseas. We have a particularly strong program as four current players on the US Women’s National Team––Sam Coffey, Crystal Dunn, Claire Hutton and Phallon Tullis-Joyce––and one on the US Men’s National team––Joe Scally––all were in Eastern New York ODP as teenagers.

“There is a good lineage of our ODP players going on to the US National Team program,” Wayne said. “Great for our kids to see somebody there that they can emulate.”

Wayne grew up in southwest England and came to the United States three decades ago to coach with NOGA Soccer. He has been coaching ever since in New York with top youth teams and spent seven years as an assistant with the St. John’s University women.

Despite growing up a very long kick from Manchester, he’s a lifelong and passionate Manchester City fan. Wayne explained, “I was watching Peter Barnes play for England on TV, liked the way that he played and since his club team was Man City, I became their supporter.”

Wayne is CEO of Quest Sports Travel, which helps American squads (including college teams) travel internationally to compete, and also does consulting work for student/athletes to help them move on to college soccer.

“I would like to continue to keep the access for everyone and continue to spread the word about ODP. Finding ways to educate all soccer families about the benefits of this wonderful program is important,” he explained. With this in mind, Wayne will be speaking at the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL) Annual General Meeting on Wednesday night, June 26 at 7 pm at the Gjøa Clubhouse, 850 62nd Street in Brooklyn.

Wayne said, “The ODP coaching curriculum written by Adelphi men’s soccer coach Gary Book is exceptional. Our outstanding head coaches, John Fitzgerald with the boys and Sue Ryan with the girls, use it with our coaching staff to take a group of 25 kids who haven’t played together and develop a style of play. Eastern New York ODP’s style is possession-based, keeping shape and moving forward on the attack and when defending, press but also know when to drop.” 

“Winning is something we all want but Development is key and that word is even in the name, Olympic Development Program,” Wayne added.

For more info about Eastern New York ODP, please contact Wayne at wfortino@enysoccer.com

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/

23 State Cup Champions to be Crowned This Saturday

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association 

May 27, 2025-While the Champions League Final will be played in Munich this Saturday, May 31 between Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain to determine Europe’s best team, half a world away, 23 state champions will be crowned.

The State Cup concludes with 23 championship games on Saturday at the Blue Sky Sports Complex, a 249-acre grass venue in Middletown, to determine the best in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA). This is the first time that the State Cup finals have been played in Orange County. For over decade, the championship games were played at Stringham Park in LaGrange in Dutchess County, east of the Hudson River, but have moved west of the Hudson in 2025. Both venues are centrally-located in Eastern New York.

The State Open Cup is for the top teams and it’s part of the National Championship Series. The Challenge Cup is for all teams at Under-10 and Under-11 as there is not a State Open Cup in those age groups. For Under-12 to Under-16, it’s for mid- to lower-tier squads.

The State Cup kicked off on March 1 with the preliminary rounds and this Saturday’s finals will determine which teams are now A-number one and top of the list in Eastern New York youth soccer.

For more info about the State Open Cup or Challenge Cup, please phone the ENYYSA office at 516-766-0849.

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/

Liberty Cup to Reboot With a Tournament This Summer on Long Island

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association 

May 12, 2025-The Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), the largest league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), has announced plans to expand the league’s slate of competitions with a summer tournament. Liberty Cup Long Island will be played on Saturday, July 26 and Sunday, July 27 at Brentwood Soccer Park.

“We are confident that the Liberty Cup will become a mainstay of the Long Island soccer calendar,” LIJSL President Andrew Seabury said. 

The event will be for the Under-9 to Under-12 age groups with brackets for both boys and girls. The competition will have a guarantee of three games and the ability to reach a final. All games will be 50 minutes long as the Under-9 and Under-10 age groups compete 7v7, while Under-11 and Under-12 compete 9v9.

“We’re continuously looking for initiatives for our LIJSL clubs and players,” LIJSL Sporting Director John Fitzgerald explained. “The Liberty Cup was a top-flight event that we ran in the past, and in its return is one such initiative. We’re excited to host this local competition, and also hope to attract teams from beyond Long Island.”

Along with bolstering league-wide programming to benefit all membership, the tournament provides a local platform for the LIJSL Academy East and West programs to showcase each team’s hard work over the coming months.

“I’m excited to be part of bringing the Liberty Cup back to Long Island,” LIJSL Technical Director Ronan Wiseman said. “It will provide our Academy East and West teams with a great opportunity for some good competition close to home and it will re-establish the tournament we first started back in the 90s.” 

The upcoming tournament is a reboot of the Liberty Cup in the 1990s that featured competing teams from around the United States and the world. Sister tournaments were Liberty Cup Moscow, Liberty Cup Italy and Liberty Cup Ireland.

The Eastern Pennsylvania ODP team (along with their families) that played in Liberty Cup Moscow. In the front row, Jon Busch is second from the left and Ben Olsen is third from the right (in the orange cap). Coach Len Bilous is on the far right in the back row.

Scores of youth soccer players who would move on to the professional ranks played in the Liberty Cup. Eastern Pennsylvania Olympic Development Program (ODP) players Ben Olsen (now the Houston Dynamo coach) and Jon Busch (now goalkeeper coach for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds) had long professional playing careers and played in both Liberty Cup USA and Liberty Cup Moscow. In Moscow, they were eyewitnesses to history as the August 1991 military coup was defeated and Liberty Cup Moscow truly earned its name.

ENYYSA Public Relations Director Randy Vogt purposely wearing the ironic color of red as Communism was defeated when the August 1991 military coup ended. He’s standing in front of the Russian Parliament Building just after the coup was over. Notice the barricades in the background that were protecting Russian President Boris Yeltsin.

The LIJSL then established an exchange program with soccer clubs in the former Soviet Union and the league purchased flags of the newly independent nations carved out of the USSR. In 1992, a Zenit St. Petersburg youth team was arriving at Kennedy Airport two days earlier than expected, the LIJSL had less than 24 hours notice plus the LIJSL Select Team scheduled to host them was playing in a tournament in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. So LIJSL volunteers scrambled, picking up the team at Kennedy Airport, found host homes that weekend for all the players and provided summer uniforms for the boys as their long-sleeve wool jerseys were too hot for the summer heat.

Commack United players surrounding Juventus goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi in 1994.

Commack United, coached by Ray Anderson, made it to the Liberty Cup Italy Boys-Under-16 final in Turin in 1994. Two Commack United players, Carlo Acquista (Fordham) and Mike Mordocco (LIU), are now NCAA Division 1 men’s college coaches.

Registration for the 2025 Liberty Cup is now open and interested teams can apply here.

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/

Ron Restrepo Named CJSL Director of League Club Development

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association 

May 7, 2025-America’s oldest youth soccer league, the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL), is pleased to announce that Ron Restrepo has become the CJSL Director of League Club Development. This brand-new role was created to support, guide and elevate every CJSL club and Ron is ready to make an impact from player development to club growth and community connection. Ron explained that “my goal is to ensure every club feels supported, heard and equipped to grow, on and off the field.”

The 46-year-old Jackson Heights resident first became involved with soccer back in 1996 as a teenage coach, working as an after-school soccer coach with the Sports & Art Foundation Program under the umbrella of the New York City Board of Education. In 2001, he took the reins coaching a Boys-Under-11 team in the Brooklyn Patriots Soccer Club and the men’s team of the Borough of Manhattan Community College. The next year, he coached the Manhattan Kickers women’s team in the New York Metropolitan Women’s Soccer League.

2002 was a pivotal year as Ron founded the Chelsea Piers Soccer Club and it joined the CJSL two years later. 

“I currently work with many of our Chelsea Piers Soccer Club boys and girls travel teams, and I continue to enjoy being on the field and staying connected with the player development side of the game,” he stated. One of the players that Ron coached at Chelsea Piers was New York City FC midfielder Justin Haak.

And if all this coaching was not enough, Ron started volunteering as the CJSL Games Chairperson in 2010 and worked his way up that ladder. He volunteered as CJSL President from 2018 to 2024 and highlights during his presidency include:

• Expanding league membership and improving club development standards

• Successfully navigating the league through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic

• Launching initiatives to support coaching education and referee recruitment

• Enhancing the league’s relationship with GotSport to streamline operations and communication

• Organizing competitive, well-structured tournaments that continue to grow every year

The first CJSL President, Erwin Klaus, reigned for 27 years, which was the longest Presidency, from the league’s founding in 1933 to 1960. Paul Kontonis is the current and 17th CJSL President and placed Ron in this vital new role.

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/

Four Staten Island Teams Play on the Red Bulls’ Pitch

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

April 30, 2025-The Staten Island Youth Soccer League (SIYSL), the southernmost league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), held a special event with the Red Bulls at Sports Illustrated Stadium last Saturday, April 26 during the Red Bulls’ 1-0 win over CF Montreal.

Four SIYSL teams that sold the most tickets were invited by the Red Bulls to play on their field at halftime.

Congrats to the Great Kills Tornados (in yellow), Richmondtown Knights (blue and white), St. Charles Cobras (red) and Staten Island SC Inter (navy blue). A great time was had by all!

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/

The American Soccer Club to Debut in May

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association 

April 29, 2025-Think of the American Soccer Club of New York as being red, white and new. Chock full of players who grew up in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) team kicks off its inaugural season on May 4 at Hofstra University’s Captains Field.

Led in the executive suite by Hicksville Americans Soccer Club alumnus Kevin Reardon and Massapequa Soccer Club graduate Jim Kilmeade, who served as the first General Manager of the Long Island Rough Riders in the mid-1990’s. The Rough Riders were also filled with local players such as Chris Armas, Giovanni Savarese, Tony Meola and many other noteworthies and won the United Soccer Leagues (USL) national championship in 1995. As this was a year before Major League Soccer (MLS) kicked off, the Rough Riders were arguably the best team in all of the United States that year. They had a great slogan of “Speak Softly and Carry a Big Kick” as they attracted SRO crowds to Mitchel Athletic Complex.

30 years later, the pro soccer landscape has changed as many professional teams dot the landscape. The NPSL is in the fourth division of American soccer, one level above the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) which has nine teams on Long Island. The NPSL was founded in 2003 and now has over 90 clubs across the United States. Its Managing Director is Cindy Spera, who played for the Rough Riders women’s team, then named the Long Island Lady Riders, three decades ago.

The American Soccer Club looks to fill Captains Field for their five home dates:

Sunday, May 4 vs. Osner’s FC. Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Night
Saturday, May 10 vs. New York Shockers. Eastern New York ODP Night.
Saturday, May 31 vs. New Haven United
Tuesday, June 24 vs. Hartford City
Saturday, July 5 vs. New Haven United
All home games at 7:00 pm.

The local ties continue as the American Soccer Club coach is John Fitzgerald, the LIJSL Sporting Director who grew up playing for the Hicksville Americans Soccer Club.

“US Men’s National Team player Joe Scally is the prototype for why we are doing this,” Kilmeade concluded. “With all the soccer and all the people here, we believe there is more than one Joe Scally on Long Island.”

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/

Remembering Longtime State Adult Association President Sal Rapaglia

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

April 22, 2025-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is mourning the passing of longtime State Adult Soccer President Sal Rapaglia on April 22 at the age of 84.

Born in Sicily, Sal emigrated to the USA at the age of 15. He played with the Palermo Soccer Club (which became the Brooklyn Italians), before moving up the ladder as a coach, and then he was elected as President of the Italian-American Soccer League. He stepped down from that post in 1979 to become President of the Eastern New York State Adult Soccer Association, a position that he held for an incredible 44 years until his passing. He briefly had a two-year term as the group’s General Secretary in the middle of his longtime Presidential tenure.

Under Sal’s direction, the state association developed Offerman Park into the 10-field Verrazano Narrows Complex in Brooklyn. With a new wave of immigrants entering the country, Sal saw to it that Eastern New York welcomed Latino as well as women’s teams and leagues to create a more diverse state association.

Sal somehow also found time to create and be commissioner of the Northeast Super Soccer League after the original North American Soccer League (NASL) folded in 1984.

The Staten Island resident, who served on several US Soccer committees, was honored with the prestigious Werner Fricker Builder’s Award in 2006 and US Soccer Life Membership, the equivalent of the Lifetime Achievement Award, in 2024. He was also a member of the Eastern New York Hall of Fame.

His last public appearance was last summer at the Sal Rapaglia Cup, named in his honor, on Randall’s Island.

FUNERAL DETAILS

Visitation:
Thursday, April 24 from 5-9 pm & Friday, April 25 from 2-5 pm and 6-9 pm
Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home,
7447 Amboy Road, Staten Island, NY 10307.

Mass:
Saturday, April 26, 10:30 am
Our Lady Help of Christians Roman Catholic Church
7396 Amboy Road, Staten Island, NY 10307

Entombment follows:
Resurrection Cemetery
361 Sharrott Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10309.

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 United States Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

The Long Island Junior Soccer League Inducts Three Longtime Volunteers Into Its Hall of Fame

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association 

April 8, 2025-The Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), the largest league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), inducted three volunteers into the LIJSL Hall of Fame on Sunday, April 6 at the Stonebridge Country Club in Smithtown.

From left to right: Michael Saint Laurent, Gina Titus and Michael Lombardi

Michael Saint Laurent has been President of the Central Islip Soccer Club for the past 15 years and coaches several teams every season. With its large Latino population, Central Islip has great potential as a soccer community and that potential is becoming a reality under Michael’s inclusive policies by making soccer accessible to every family regardless of financial status or the child’s skill level. Several of the club’s players have gone on to play college soccer as Michael has become a role model in the community.

Gina Titus coached the Stony Brook Panthers squad for a dozen years and was assistant coach for the girls varsity soccer team at Ward Melville High School from 1996 to ’98. She then volunteered as tournament director from 2001 to 2012 for the Long Island Soccer Shootout that was played at the Three Village Soccer Park. She was Chairperson of the hugely popular LIJSL Convention at the Huntington Hilton for nearly two decades and served on various other LIJSL committees. For the past decade, Gina has volunteered as President of the Long Island Ladies Soccer League and its 60+ teams in six divisions are a place for LIJSL girls to play after they graduate from youth soccer.

Michael Lombardi coached his children—Danielle, Michael and Christine—when they were growing up in the West Islip Soccer Club and has been the Club President for the past dozen years. During his tenure as President, Mike has helped develop a new lighted soccer field that’s coming soon, built and manages the club’s highly-successful concession stand, expanded the Adam Novellano Indoor Tournament to over 400 teams, partnered the club to form the Long Island Soccer Classic tourney with over 500 teams every summer plus expanded the club’s High Flyers TOPSoccer Program. Additionally, Mike leads the club in West Islip’s Annual Memorial Day Parade plus is a LIJSL and high school referee.

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/

The Pat McComiskey Father’s Day Weekend Tournament Has Been a Massapequa Tradition For the Past 53 Years

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

April 10, 2025-The Massapequa Soccer Club, in partnership with US Youth Soccer’s League America and the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), is pleased to present the 53rd Annual Pat McComiskey Father’s Day Weekend Tournament.

Pat McComiskey co-founded the Massapequa Soccer Club in 1970 along with Hank Oustecky, long before most other Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) clubs were founded, and the Massapequa duo helped start the youth soccer boom of the 1970’s. 

“The Massapequa Soccer Club Tournament Event Series has, on the whole, continued to grow over the past three years. As a legacy event, perhaps the Pat McComiskey Father’s Day Weekend Tournament does not receive the publicity that it used to. Partnering with Eastern New York as a US Youth League America Festivals-presented event should help us in that regard,” explained Massapequa Soccer Club Chief Club Administrator Steve Padaetz. “This is in-line with the legacy of the Pat McComiskey Tournament and its dedication to and focus on the intramural and recreational player for more than 50 years.”

The fun begins on Friday night, June 13 from 5 to 10 pm as Under-9 and Under-10 travel teams, both boys and girls, play 7 vs. 7. Under-6 to Under-12 intramural players, both boys and girls, take the field all day on Saturday, June 14. The Under-6 and Under-7 age groups play 4 vs. 4 with no goalkeeper, Under-8 plays 5 vs. 5 and Under-9 to Under-12 play 7 vs. 7. The teams will play four 25-minute mini-games. 77 teams played in the Pat McComiskey Tournament last year.

For more information and to register, click here. 

For questions, e-mail tournamentdirector@massapequasc.com

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 United States Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/

The Staten Island Youth Soccer League Inducts Four Volunteers Into its Hall of Fame

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

March 18, 2025-The Staten Island Youth Soccer League (SIYSL), the southernmost league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), inducted four longtime volunteers into its Hall of Fame on Thursday night, March 13 at LiGreci’s Staaten.

From left to right: Tara Kalikas (accepting for her father, Joseph LaBarbera), Robert Ollis, Mark Murasso Jr. (accepting on behalf of his father, Mark Murasso Sr.) and Richard Weir (accepting for his father, Alex Weir)

Joseph LaBarbera, inducted posthumously, began coaching in the St. Patrick’s Soccer Club and later co-founded the Richmondtown Soccer Club. As head coach at St. John Villa Academy, he led the Bears to arguably the most successful era in program history, winning CHSAA Archdiocesan titles in 1995, ’96 and ’98. But much more than those wins, he’s still remembered fondly as a role model for his players.

Robert Ollis was one of the first coaches in the Our Lady Queen of Peace Soccer Club and went on to become OLQP Director for seven years. He became a referee, was assistant coach at St. John’s Villa Academy and Wagner College women’s soccer as well as Second Vice President of the SIYSL. He coached teams on Staten Island with OLQP, Petrides and Staten Island United and even in the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL). There are many memorials to his son Michael Ollis who played in both the SIYSL and LIJSL and gave his life while saving a Polish soldier in Afghanistan in 2013.

Mark Murasso Sr. is a charter member of the Petrides Soccer Club, volunteering as a coach when the club was formed in 1998 and serving as club director from 2000 to 2002. He helped Petrides become one of the largest soccer clubs on Staten Island, started the club’s successful kindergarten clinic and is a longtime referee who has been honored by the Staten Island Soccer Referee Association (SISRA).

Alex Weir, inducted posthumously, started coaching in 1984 at St. Clare’s and later coached at Staten Island United. He coached the girls varsity at Moore Catholic High School and led his Mavericks to the 2005 CHSAA Archdiocesan championship and undefeated regular seasons in both 2017 and 2018. Most importantly, he was a beloved role model to his players. He was responsible for the Knights of Columbus PK Challenge and Staten Islanders always qualify and compete at the New York State finals at West Point.

The SIYSL Hall of Famers who were present at the dinner.

Additionally, a couple of special awards were handed out on that festive night. The Obed Sollis Director of the Year Award was given to Steven Alaimo, the Carmine Cantalino Award of Excellence went to Mario Amorosso and the Friends of Soccer Award was handed out to Son of a Pitch (SOAP) Futbol Company.

From left to right: SIYSL Treasurer Fred Cipriani, SOAP Co-Founders Alex Cuba and John Tardy plus SIYSL President Diana DiLeo. All photos courtesy of Barbara Hogan Schwarzrock.

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/

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