By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
April 3, 2013-The Boys-Under-15 Dix Hills Elite of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) and Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) went 3-1-3 in the US Youth Soccer National League to finish in second place to the 7-0-0 Sunrise Elite (Florida). As the top two teams in the division, both squads qualified for the US Youth Soccer National Championships, to be played July 23 to 28 in Overland Park, Kansas.
The Elite defeated Empire Revolution (New York West), 1-0, on March 17 in Las Vegas to jump over Concorde Fire Elite (Georgia) and into second place, punching their ticket to the National Championships. Richie Mastrangelo delivered the goal Dix Hills needed in the 13th minute, and the defense held on the rest of the way as Dix Hills is now planning to play for the National Championship in Kansas.
"The main reason for the team advancing to the National Championships in Kansas this summer is simply because of the hard work the boys put in during training," commented Dix Hills coach Dominic Casciato. "We’ve been all over the place with the weather this winter, but when it’s time to train, the players really apply themselves regardless of the circumstances and take on board everything they are being taught. In addition to that, although I’ve only been coaching the team for about nine months, the majority of the boys have been together a long time and there is a great team spirit within the squad, which can often be the deciding factor in close games like those we played in the National League."
Dix Hills won the State Open Cup in 2011 and the 2011 Massapequa Winter College Showcase (as Under-14s playing up a year), then repeated last year in Massapequa against teams of the same age. The squad also won the 2011 Brooklyn Italians Christopher Columbus Cup, the 2012 Annandale Premier Cup in Virginia and the 2012 Spirit Kick-Off Classic in Pennsylvania.
To prepare for Kansas, Dix Hills is playing in the Region 1 Premier League and State Open Cup this spring.
With 123,843 youth soccer players––68,587 boys and 55,256 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 12 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 Special Children. 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.
Back row, left to right-Nicholas Elkins, Casey Barone, Spencer Manus, Noah Waxner, Joseph DeStefano, Joseph Tristano, Justin Hassenfeld, Philip Baresi, Richie Mastrangelo, Coach Dominic Casciato
Front row, left to right-Taylor Kaczynski, Devon Smith, Michael Sclafani, Jimmy Contino, Brian Flynn, Harris Cofie, Tyler Spellman, Christopher McAuliff