Human Interest

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/

The Many Challenges in Being Recruited to Play College Soccer

By Pat Grecco

Especially with the evolution of pay-to-play soccer in our nation, I have often wondered about the increasing numbers of international players on the rosters at all levels, NCAA Divisions 1, 2, 3 as well as NAIA programs. It’s like asking a question about the elephant in the room. But not many people in the soccer community care to comment. With the onset of the transfer portal, I have found that the pot of gold (playing soccer in college, perhaps with an athletic scholarship) has become more and more difficult. Boys in high school seem to be the most affected by the challenges of foreign players and transfer portal players. High school girls still make up the majority on rosters at the collegiate level but this could change.

I recently helped a female player who wanted to transfer from a D-1 school, she entered the portal and, within 72 hours, had four offers from D-1 schools for a full scholarship with stipend. She was a defender, good speed, size, and a B+ student. She brought to her new program two years of solid collegiate playing experience, could a high school senior compete with her?

My friend played American football in the UK, but there was a cap on American players for each team, no more than three. When I search rosters for the student-athletes I work with, I see foreign players outnumbering American players and this is not just for D-1 programs. Should the NCAA and NAIA think about some type of caps on the international players and the transfer portal recruits? In actuality, a college coach could fill his entire roster by just recruiting foreign players and topping it off with some from the transfer portal without taking one high school player. I really hope this is not the future!

Parents are spending thousands of dollars each year in pay-to-play programs, many kids are giving up playing high school soccer but what is the outcome? Not always what they expected. I recently wrote an article on the decision to play college club soccer after not being recruited to play at the Varsity level.

I researched the current NCAA D-1 Men’s Soccer National Champion, the University of Vermont, and congratulations to them on their success. Their roster revealed players from the following countries: Germany, Canada, Spain, Israel, Hong Kong, Hungary and Gibraltar. Plus six on the roster from the transfer portal who played at D-1 colleges.

I encourage the student-athletes that I work with to have very strong academics, GPA and SAT/ACT. D-3 programs can only offer academic scholarships to a recruited player as there are no athletic scholarships from D-3 programs. I also encourage players to look at private D-3 schools known to have generous endowments.

Final thoughts: Parents, ask questions when engaging pay-to-play clubs, evaluate the driving time, perhaps having to give up playing at the Varsity high school level plus time taken away from studies. Ask the pay-to-play club what is the outcome for their high school seniors, where are they headed for college and what percentage will be playing soccer at the collegiate level. Keep eyes wide open, ask questions and be pro-active for your student-athlete.

Pat Grecco is an Eastern New York and Long Island Junior Soccer League Hall of Famer who is CEO of the College-Bound Athlete Scholarship Service. For more info, log on to www.collegeboundathlete.com or contact Pat directly at soccervol@aol.com

Happy St. Patrick’s Day From Eastern New York

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

March 17, 2025-Whether you are Irish or not, today is a day for the wearing of the green.

National teams that wear green include Ireland, Northern Ireland, Mexico, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq. Club sides that wear green include Celtic, Hibernian, Panathinaikos, St-Etienne, Sporting Lisbon, the Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, Austin FC, the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Dallas Sidekicks.

Although local soccer fans debate whether the New York City metro area is red (for the Red Bulls) or blue (New York City FC), for the fans of the beloved New York Cosmos, it will always be green.

Close to 1% of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), with over 100,000 players, is named Patrick. 647 players have Patrick as their first name and 25 players use Patrick as their last name. 161 coaches are called Patrick as a first name and three have it as their surname.

Plus there are 19 team managers with the first name of Patrick but none with it as a last name.

Therefore, Patrick is 29 times more common as a first rather than a last name among our soccer clubs.

But whether you’re Irish or not plus named Patrick or not, Happy St. Patrick’s Day from Eastern New York!

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 Youth Soccer League Inducts Four Volunteers Into Its Hall of Fame

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

Joseph LaBarbera, inducted posthumously, began coaching in the St. Patrick’s Soccer Club and later co-founded the Richmondtown Soccer Club in (getting the year from Bill Smith). 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.

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/

Eastern New York ODP Alumna Phallon Tullis-Joyce Enjoying Great Success For Manchester United

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

March 13, 2025-Sam Coffey, Crystal Dunn and Claire Hutton are US Women’s National Team (USWNT) members who played in the Olympic Development Program (ODP) of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and we can add Phallon Tullis-Joyce to that growing list. Phallon has received call-ups to the USWNT after standing out as Manchester United’s goalkeeper. She led Manchester United to winning the FA Cup last year and has conceded the fewest goals (6) in the Women’s Super League this season and is ranked first in save percentage (90%). She also received the PFA Community Champion Award for volunteering with the Manchester United Foundation’s EcoReds program as well as other volunteering such as local hospital visits.

Phallon started playing soccer on Long Island when she was four years old.

She recalled, “I remember being a forward when I was younger but my mom swears that I was a center midfielder instead.”

Phallon started out in the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) with the Ronkonkoma Raid, then played for Long Island United and the East Islip Red Dragons. When trying out for Long Island United, longtime soccer coach Sue Ryan asked her to switch to goalkeeper. Sue explained, “I think Phallon was about 11 years old and she was a terrific athlete with a perfect mindset to be a goalkeeper.”

Phallon Tullis-Joyce in back row, second from left, after winning the Girls-Under-14 State Cup in 2011 with Farmingdale United.

Phalllon then won five State Cups playing with Farmingdale United.

Kurt Kelley, a former professional goalkeeper in Costa Rica who owns KK Athletics in Farmingville, started training her when she was 12 years old and still continues working with her today.

“When she is in town, we try to set up a few a sessions, usually at KK Athletics where we work on goalkeeping technique, walk through game situations, do some reaction specific drills. Mainly we just stay active and sharp with 6-8 reps per exercise,” Kurt stated. “In the summer, if time allows, we increase the work load leading up to her preseason training.”

Phallon with longtime coach Kurt Kelley.

Phallon won the US Youth Soccer League Girls-Under-16 national championship in 2013 with Match Fit Colchesters from New Jersey. Her agreement was that she would train with Kurt 2-3 times weekly and make a practice in New Jersey once a week.

“I had three-hour treks to play and train with Match Fit in New Jersey,” Phallon stated.

“Phallon has always been very meticulous about her performance in training and she sets her bar high. Which it should be, she is tremendously agile, quick and has great range. She has always studied her personal performance by playing a game or practice in her head as well as analyzing her performance through video,” Kurt explained. “From personal experience being a pro goalkeeper, many times it can involve adjusting your technique or playing style to what your goalkeeper coach prefers. So we have worked with several techniques in a way that she finds what fits her best.”

Phallon was born on October 19 but when she tried to wear #19 on Farmingdale United, that number was already taken so she reversed it and has worn #91, a unique number for soccer players, ever since.

There have been some bumps along the way for the 28-year-old from Shoreham.

Although she played in the Eastern New York ODP from 2008 to 2011 and on the Regional ODP Team in 2008-09, she was cut when she first tried out for Eastern New York ODP as a 12-year-old.

Phallon was not selected in the 2019 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Draft so she went to Stade de Reims, then a 2nd Division club in France, and guided them to the 1st Division while wearing the captain’s armband and communicating in French.

“It’s been about four years since I played in France so my speaking skills are a bit rusty but my listening skills are kept sharp with my French teammate here at United, Melvine Malard,” Phallon explained.

Phallon with the US Women’s National Team.

She then transferred to the NWSL’s OL Reign in Washington State, making just one apperance in 2021 but starting all 30 matches of the 2022 season, earning five Save of the Week honors. Her fans became known as the Octopus Army as she was a marine biology major at the University of Miami and a member of the college’s scuba diving club.

Eastern New York ODP Director Jim Volpe said, “I remember Phallon as a nice kid. She had to work very hard to get where she is today. She really blossomed and I don’t think anybody expected all her recent success.”

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/

CJSL Parents to Complete The Sideline Project Course

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

March 11, 2025-The Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL) are New York City originals since 1933 and the oldest youth league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) as well as all of American soccer. The CJSL has improved the game-day experience by partnering with The Sideline Project for the past three years. Starting with the Spring Season that has just kicked off, all parents of players in the CJSL’s 4v4 competitions will be required to complete The Sideline Project Course, a 15-minute interactive course designed to educate parents on proper sideline behavior.

The Sideline Project’s initiative to Inspire Players by Empowering Parents aligns with the CJSL’s belief that parents play a crucial role in shaping a child’s love for the game. This course will help them better understand how their sideline behavior can impact a young player’s development and also reinforce the importance of collaboration between parents, coaches, clubs and players in creating a supportive soccer environment. At the conclusion of the course, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion and be invited to add their name to The Sideline Project’s Virtual Pledge Wall, demonstrating their commitment to fostering a positive experience for all players.

“This initiative lays the foundation for future generations of soccer players by engaging the parents of our youngest athletes,” explained CJSL President Paul Kontonis. “Player development starts with a positive and supportive game-day environment, and the CJSL is committed to fostering that culture through its competitions and member clubs.”

CJSL Director Dimitrie Draguca added, “Our commitment is to provide the best possible playing environment for our athletes so they can maximize their development. By implementing this mandatory parent education program, we are ensuring that our players receive the support they need to thrive on and off the field.”

“The investment the CJSL is making towards positively affecting the lives of soccer players, families and dedicated coaches is commendable. We are proud to collaborate with the CJSL and are encouraged by their commitment to improving the youth sports landscape,” said Skye Eddy, Founder of The Sideline Project.

The Capital District Youth Soccer League (CDYSL) and Hudson Valley Youth Soccer League (HVYSL) are the other ENYYSA leagues that partner with The Sideline Project, both beginning that relationship this year.

Remembering the Amazing Tony Picciano

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

March 6, 2025-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is mourning the loss of longtime coach Tony Picciano, who died on March 4 at the age of 72. Tony was honored as the ENYYSA Personality of the Month a decade ago in February 2015.

Tony made his professional soccer debut for the New York Cosmos on June 15, 1975, which was his 23rd birthday, in a nationally-televised game on CBS and a sold-out stadium. One of the fans in the stadium was his father and it was Father’s Day. At to top it all off, Tony’s childhood hero, Pelé, has just come out of retirement and was his new teammate.

It sounds like a story out of Hollywood but that’s exactly what happened to Tony that day at Downing Stadium on Randalls Island. The result was a 2-2 tie vs. the Dallas Tornados and their American star, Kyle Rote Jr., and that game is remembered 50 years later for helping give a jolt to the American soccer boom.

Tony played for the Cosmos for one more year, in 1976, when their home games were at Yankee Stadium.

Tony was born and grew up in Buenos Aires and played for the youth teams of the famed Boca Juniors. At the age of 11, Tony and his parents and younger sister emigrated to the United States and he started playing for Palermo FC of the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL). It was then on to LIU Brooklyn from 1971 to ‘75, where he was honored as All-State and All-Metropolitan for the Blackbirds and received the 1975 Dolly King Athlete-Excellence Award, presented annually to the student-athlete who exemplifies leadership, sportsmanship and achievement that the late William “Dolly” King personified as a student-athlete, administrator and coach.

“Throughout my early career, I played offense and midfield and I was a scorer,” Tony had said. “As a captain in my senior year at LIU, I was asked to help develop the incoming freshman in defense.”

While at LIU, Tony also competed for Palermo FC’s first team which played in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League (CSL). He also played for Calabria Roma of the Italian-American Soccer League (IASL). In the 1975 North American Soccer League (NASL) Draft, Tony was selected in the third round by the New York Cosmos. After the 1976 season, Tony was hired in passenger service for KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines and played for the KLM Blazing Bravos for the next decade.

“It was amazing traveling to different countries to play international games and representing KLM,” Tony had commented.

He moved to Malverne, Long Island, where he lived for the last 42 years of his life, and became a youth soccer coach. Tony coached his two sons playing for Merrick, Port Washington and Rockville Centre in the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) and for two decades, he coached many of the LIJSL’s top players in the Select Program and Player Development Program (PDP). He led the Boys-Under-16 and Girls-Under-16 PDP squads to undefeated trips through Europe in 2005 and 2006.

“I don’t play soccer any longer, but I have committed to pass on all I learned for the love of the game by coaching,” Tony had explained.

Visitation is Thursday, March 6 from 4-6 pm at the Malverne Funeral Home Anthony J. Walsh & Son, 330 Hempstead Avenue, Malverne, NY 11565. Funeral Mass on Friday, March 7, 9:45 am at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church, 65 Wright Avenue, Malverne, NY 11565.

The Many Challenges in Being Recruited to Play College Soccer

By Pat Grecco