Four Long Island Junior Soccer League Teams Play This Saturday to Earn a Trip to Dallas
New York Youth Soccer News: The value of the package for the champion team is expected to be above $10,000
The top four Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) teams from the Boys-Under-14 Premier Division will be playing this Saturday, November 25 at the Peter Collins Soccer Park in Plainview with a trip to Dallas on the line. The 10:00 am semifinals will feature #1 seed Hauppauge Hurricanes (6-2-1) taking on #4 seed Stony Brook Santos (3-2-4) while #2 seed Huntington Boys Club AOs play #3 seed Uniondale Aguila, both with identical 5-3-1 records. The winners of the semifinal matches will advance to the final at 1:30 pm.
Hauppauge won the State Open Cup in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) last June and will need to win two tough matches on Saturday to add to their trophy case.
This Final Four is being played as the LIJSL and the IberCup USA announced a joint agreement earlier this fall, which culminates in the opportunity for one LIJSL Boys-Under-14 Fall 2017 Premier Division team to participate in the IberCup USA 2018. The event will be held March 28–April 1 in Dallas, Texas.
“The competition for the IberCup playoffs has been extremely tight throughout the season, and is representative of the competitive level of play of these teams,” commented Steve Padaetz, LIJSL’s Director of Member Services and its Competitions Chair. “We look forward to welcoming the four advancing teams to the Final Four playoffs on Thanksgiving weekend, in what we expect will be very competitive and exciting matches.”
Through this partnership agreement, the LIJSL IberCup Champion receives an automatic invitation, and paid acceptance into the prestigious event, with the team’s hotel, meals and ground transportation costs paid for by IberCup USA. The value of the package is estimated to be more than $10,000.
“The IberCup is very excited about the partnership with such a prestigious league like the LIJSL,” stated Filipe Rodrigues, Founder and Tournament Director of the IberCup. “We welcome and look forward to seeing the LIJSL Fall League-winning team compete at the tournament.”
Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association: 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) reaches 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.
