By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
July 1, 2017-In a lengthy match-up between two very competitive Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) teams, the Oceanside Fusion outlasted the Hempstead Panthers to win the Boys-Under-20 Eastern New York Premier League (ENYPL) title. This championship game was played on June 10 at Stringham Park in LaGrange and hosted by the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA).
Joe Di Miceli scored on a penalty kick and Kyle Porcano had a goal during the run of play for Oceanside but the score was tied 2-2 at the end of both regulation and overtime so the title was decided in a shootout. Oceanside keeper Peter Zarba, who alternated in goal during the game with Joe Como, was the star of the shootout as Zarba saved two Hempstead penalty kicks and Oceanside won the championship by netting four penalty kicks to Hempstead’s one as Joe Di Miceli, Matt Miller, Kyle Porcano, and Joe Mesoraca converted kicks for Oceanside.
“Between Hempstead and us, games always seem to go down to the wire,” explained Oceanside coach Steve Padaetz. “Six years ago, we lost a shootout at a tournament in Randolph, New Jersey after being up three kicks to one. I always tell the players to learn something from every game and we have not lost a shootout in the six years since. Peter excels in saving penalty kicks and wants the opportunity to save them.”
This is the second ENYPL title for Oceanside, who also won in a shootout in the championship game of 2014, the only other year they played in the league. The ENYPL is America’s oldest continuous Premier League, having originally kicked off play in 2001.
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 11 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 Association. For more information, please log onto http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.