Press Release
Samantha Graf is Honored With the Masotto-Driscoll Scholarship
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
July 12, 2024-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is pleased to announce that Plainview resident Samantha Graf is receiving the Masotto-Driscoll Scholarship.
At Plainview/Old Bethpage High School, Samantha was involved in student government all four years and was Senior Class President. An Honor Roll Student all four years as well, she was in the Business Honor Society, English Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and a Moot Court Winner in addition to participating in the Mock Trial Club and Marching Band. Her community service includes teacher’s assistant, Holiday Helper, Senior Citizen Prom Senior, Citizen Internet Learning, Holocaust Remembrance Night and Valentine’s Day Veterans Cards.
Samantha played in Eastern New York’s Olympic Development Program (ODP) in addition to club and high school soccer. In her essay, she wrote that “My dedication to soccer spans many years, starting from my early childhood and continuing into my high school years. Soccer has not only been a sport for me but a source of joy, discipline and personal development. The lessons I’ve learned on the field such as teamwork, resilience and sportsmanship have translated into other areas of my life, including academics and leadership roles.”
The scholarship’s namesakes, Patricia Louise Masotto and Brenda Driscoll, were best friends and top women’s soccer players from Massapequa, Long Island. Eastern New York set up a scholarship in their name after they were killed by a drunk driver in 1985. The scholarship is determined by success in high school as well as community service.
We wish Samantha well in studying and playing goalkeeper at Marist College in Poughkeepsie 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. 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/
Alyssa Deutsch Receives the Masotto-Driscoll Scholarship
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
July 11, 2024-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is pleased to announce that Islip Terrace’s Alyssa Deutsch is receiving the Masotto-Driscoll Scholarship.
The scholarship’s namesakes, Patricia Louise Masotto and Brenda Driscoll, were best friends and top women’s soccer players from Massapequa, Long Island. Eastern New York set up a scholarship in their name after they were killed by a drunk driver in 1985. The scholarship is determined by success in high school as well as community service.
Alyssa was an AP Scholar at East Islip High School. She had four consecutive years of four straight quarters on the High Honor Roll, with a Mastery in Science and Mastery in Math, Art Honor Society and World Language Honor Society plus is working towards the Seal of Civic Readiness. She was also selected the 2023 Homecoming Queen.
Alyssa played four years of varsity soccer with East Islip High School, winning a Suffolk County championship along the way. She competed for Stony Brook LGN in club soccer, captaining her side to several league titles and two cups. One of her most memorable experiences was playing on a girls team that competed against boys squads and made it all the way to the semifinals in Spain’s Mundialito Tournament.
The many local groups that Alyssa volunteers with includes the past four years with the East Islip Soccer Club’s TOPSoccer Program for children with special needs.
We wish Alyssa well in studying and playing soccer at SUNY New Paltz 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. 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/
Caitlin Hess Receives the Jack Bauman Scholarship
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
July 10, 2024-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that Patterson’s Caitlin Hess is receiving a Jack Bauman Scholarship.
The scholarship’s namesake is considered the father of women’s soccer on Long Island. He was devoted to the Massapequa Soccer Club and Eastern New York. The Jack Bauman Scholarship is based on success in high school as well as community service.
Caitlin was a National Honor Society Member at the Mother of Grace Divine School, a Catholic online learning program designed for students who want a faith-based classical education. She was a National Honor Society Special Project Leader and also volunteered for Birthright of Greater Danbury.
In her essay, Caitlin wrote that “I have learned to embrace all challenges as opportunities for growth as a person. I especially embraced this philosophy in my senior year as I took upon a leadership role in the National Honor Society as a group service project leader and coordinator. My participation in the National Honor Society, the Town of Poughkeepsie Soccer Club and volunteer positions have played an integral part in forming my current leadership skills. Furthermore, these organizations have given me opportunities to participate more fully in giving back to my community.”
Caitlin played soccer for 14 years in the Hudson Valley Youth Soccer League (HVYSL).
We wish Caitlin well in studying nursing at Ohio’s Franciscan University of Steubenville 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. 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/
Michael Iemma Receives a Livio D’Arpino Scholarship
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
July 9, 2024-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that Bethpage resident Michael Iemma is receiving a Livio D’Arpino Scholarship.
The scholarship’s namesake was a beloved Eastern New York Vice President who was seemingly involved in every level of local soccer before his untimely passing in 2002. The Livio D’Arpino award is based on success in high school as well as community service.
At Plainedge High School, Michael was a member of the National Honor Society the past two years and had a weighted GPA of 3.7 out of 4.0. He received All-County soccer honors in 2021, ’22 and ’23 plus was the Red Devils’ MVP in 2021.
He has been playing with Eastern New York’s Olympic Development Program (ODP) from 2018 to today and made the National ODP Team three times, including currently. He started playing with the Plainedge Soccer Club when he was four years old and also competed for East Meadow, Massapequa and the Long Island Rough Riders.
Additionally, Michael is a certified referee who received the Long Island Soccer Referee Association (LISRA) Ace of Initiative Award last winter and a LISRA Scholarship last month.
In his essay, he write that “Soccer has been a major part of my life growing up and has taught me valuable lessons that will follow me for the rest of my life. Soccer taught me about competitive spirit, hard work, teamwork, sportsmanship, positive attitude, failure and how to bounce back from it, just to name a few.”
We wish Michael the best studying and playing soccer at Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina 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. 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/
Diego Flores Receives a Livio D’Arpino Scholarship
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
July 8, 2024-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is very pleased to announce that Nesconset’s Diego Flores is receiving a Livio D’Arpino Scholarship.
Diego wrote is his essay that “I have seen that by leading by example and living your values first-hand allows you to impact the lives of so many people. As an incoming college athlete and aspiring nurse, I’m excited to find my role in society and put myself in a position to bring about change, serve the needs of others and implement the same trust, respect and accountability that I was lucky to have been provided by my community and my peers.”
At Smithtown East High School, Diego was a member of the Math Honor Society, Science Honor Society and French Honor Society while maintaining a weighted GPA of 4.28. He has been the Bulls’ starting goalkeeper since 2021 and was honored three times as both All-Conference and All-County, named Long Island Boys Soccer Goalkeeper of the Year, received the News 12 Long Island Scholar-Athlete Award and also was a Ray Perez Scholarship Recipient.
Diego has played for Eastern New York’s Olympic Development Program (ODP) since 2019 and been a member of the National ODP Team since 2022, playing in the Dallas Cup’s Boys-Under-17 final in 2023.
The scholarship’s namesake, Livio D’Arpino, was a beloved Eastern New York Vice President who was seemingly involved in every level of local soccer before his untimely passing in 2002. The award is based on success in high school as well as community service.
We wish Diego the best pursuing a nursing degree and playing soccer at Southern Connecticut State University 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. 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/
Staten Island Hosts the Back to the Beach Soccer Classic
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 27, 2024-The current heat wave is bringing New Yorkers back to the beach. The Staten Island Youth Soccer League (SIYSL), the southernmost league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), has been going to the beach since 2017 when it first hosted the Back to the Beach Soccer Classic.
This tournament took a two-year break in 2020 and ’21 for the pandemic with more and more teams playing since. 63 squads, including Brunswick FC from the Capital District Youth Soccer League (CDYSL), played in the 6th Annual Back to the Beach Soccer Classic at Midland Beach on June 22 and 23.
The tourney does not use official beach soccer rules (yes, there is such a thing) but developed its own rules.
“We do not use goalkeepers. We play on 50 yard by 30 yard fields with 4 x 6 goals. Four vs. four for Under-12 and up, five vs. five for Under-11 and lower,” tourney director Rich Nellis explained. “No offsides but players are not allowed to camp in the goal area and the ball cannot be played once it enters the restricted area by the goal. You cannot play as much one-on-one with the sand so it encourages passing and teamwork.”
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 nine 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/
Soccer Refs Wanted
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 26, 2024-There are over 100,000 youth soccer players in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and over 3,000 referees and assistant refs.
Most of the action takes play during the spring and fall as the weather is just right, not too hot or not too cold for soccer. With the Spring Season coming to a close, Eastern New York looks to increase our number of referees in time for the Fall Season.
There are many reasons to become a referee and/or assistant referee, from staying involved with the game, getting exercise, meeting new people, earning money, etc. Plus you are your own boss and decide when you are available to ref. The reasons for reffing are as diverse as the people who make up our referee ranks, men and women plus teenage boys and girls.
Eastern New York seeks new Grassroots Referees and the certification class consists of both online and classroom learning. For more information, log on to https://enysreferee.org/how-to-become-a-referee/. If you have any questions, e-mail questions@enysreferee.org
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 nine 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/
30 Local Soccer Players Participate in Eastern New York’s Clinic During the State Cup Finals
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 17, 2024-While travel team and premier players were competing in State Cup championship games on adjacent fields at Stringham Park on Saturday, June 1, the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) held a free clinic for 30 local recreational soccer players from the LaGrange area. Boys and girls 9-10 years old participated.
Olympic Development Program (ODP) coaches Ricky Cusano, Medo Kafaga and Scott Goodman helped the players work on the basic fundamentals such as ball control, dribbling and shooting during the 1-hour session.
“I thought that the clinic went very well,” ODP Director Jim Volpe stated. “The kids got a taste of professional coaching and had a good time.”
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/