By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
November 7, 2017-The Staten Island Youth Soccer League (SIYSL), the southernmost league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), hosted a series of games under the lights at the Owl Hollow Soccer Complex on Friday night, October 27. The goal was to raise money for the Mighty Mike Foundation, a non-profit organization providing tools to child life specialists that help comfort, educate and provide hope to kids battling long-term and chronic illnesses.
Eight SIYSL teams from the Girls-Under-11 age group played. Four teams wore black uniforms with gold lettering while their opponents wore gold uniforms with black lettering, symbolizing the colors of pediatric cancer awareness.
The inspiration for the evening was nine-year-old Maggie Russo from Our Lady of Good Council Soccer Club, who has been undergoing treatment for cancer and is thankfully currently in remission. Maggie was diagnosed with cancer when she was about to turn two years old and it started in her eye and has spread to her bone marrow and later her bladder wall. Maggie's mom, Mary Beth Russo, is the Assistant Director for the club.
$5,385 was raised for the Mighty Mike Foundation.
“It was a very successful night and we look forward to doing it again next year,” commented SIYSL President Bill Smith. “Thank you to our club directors for supporting us and a special thank-you to Nick Senise of Notre Dame Academy, as well as all of the Girls Catholic High School Athletic Association coaches and players who also volunteered.”
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 on to http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.