Dix Hills Are Truly Elite in Winning Their Fourth State Cup
New York Youth Soccer News: It’s an odd-numbered year so Dix Hills had to win the title ….
When two titans in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) met for the Boys-Under-19 and 20 State Open Cup final on June 11, one pattern had to end. The Massapequa Aces had won the last two State Cups while their friendly rivals in the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), Dix Hills Elite, had won three State Cups, all in odd-numbered years (2011, ’13, ’15).
It was Dix Hills’ pattern which continued as they shut out Massapequa, 1-0, at Oceanside High School to win the Peter Collins Cup, named after the US Soccer Hall of Famer who volunteered as LIJSL President for 27 years. Dix Hills will represent Eastern New York at the Regionals from June 30 to July 4 in Spotsylvania, Virginia.
“Massapequa was playing quite direct and we were doing the same thing, which is not our game,” commented Dix Hills coach Phil Bannister. “Once we started possessing the ball, we had our chances and eventually put one away.”
Matt Flax scored on a near-post blister from 10 yards in the 85th minute while keeper Josh Levine recorded the shutout in goal.
Massapequa received the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award as determined by the game officials. The namesake of the award, who died last year, started the LIJSL Sportsmanship Program and was honored as a Life Member by U.S. Soccer.
In the post-game ceremony, both coaches thanked Eastern New York and especially State Cup Chairperson Steve Padaetz for moving the game from Saturday, June 10 to Sunday, June 11 as the teams had a conflict with the original date, most notably being a mandatory graduation ceremony rehearsal for Massapequa High School students on Saturday.
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) 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.
