By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 19, 2023-Connetquot Ronkonkoma Real FC defeated Two Bridges FC, 4-1, to win the Boys-Under-18 State Open Cup at overcast Stringham Park in LaGrange on June 4. The State Cup was presented by LifeVac, the choking rescue device that has saved over 900 lives and counting.
Andrew Johnson scored two goals plus Jared Kelly and Kyle Smith each added one to pace Connetquot Ronkonkoma.
The winning coach, Francisco Herrera, explained, “The majority of our boys have been together since they were six years old.”
Two Bridges FC took the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award as determined by the game officials back home to New York City. Amoroso, a US Soccer Life Member who died seven years ago, started the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Sportsmanship Program in 1980 and it spread to Eastern New York, nationally and then to China and Ireland, and in the process, made soccer games kinder and gentler.
Connetquot Ronkonkoma will represent the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) at the East Regionals from June 23 to 29 in Loudoun County, Virginia as part of the National Championship Series.
The cup’s honoree, Ray Wolfe, played in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League, coached in the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL) and was State Youth Referee Administrator (SYRA) of Eastern New York for nearly a decade before passing away six years ago.
With approximately 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 Association. For more information, please log onto http://www.enysoccer.com/