Staten Island United Hibs Are the New BU-14 State Champs and Bring Title Back Home
New York Youth Soccer News: Staten Island United Hibs have as their goal to play like Arsenal and Glasgow Rangers but it was their GK who particularly stood out in the State Cup final.
Staten Island United Hibs of the Staten Island Youth Soccer League (SIYSL) gets its name because coach George MacDonald has a friend, Scott Martin, who plays for Scottish Premier League side Hibernian.
We try and play with the control and composure of Arsenal and the heart of Glasgow Rangers,” explained Coach MacDonald.
Yet it was their goalkeeper, Joe Lieberman, who particularly stood out in their Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) Boys-Under-14 State Open Cup final game vs. Mastic Atletico Boys 00-01 of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) on June 4 at Stringham Park in LaGrange. Regulation and overtime ended scoreless as Lieberman made a few key saves in extra time, then he saved two penalty kicks in the shootout to win the Rocco Amoroso Cup.
The namesake of the award, who died on May 5, was inducted into the Halls of Fame of the LIJSL and Eastern New York plus was honored as a Life Member by U.S. Soccer. Amoroso started the LIJSL Sportsmanship Program in 1980, it has since been copied around the world and he spoke about the benefits of Fair Play across the United States.
Blaze Bono, Frankie Falco and Howie Morales scored their penalty kicks as Staten Island United won the title, 3-1, in the shootout.
“I would like to thank the LaGrange Soccer Club for hosting us today and Eastern New York for all they do for local soccer,” added Coach MacDonald.
Staten Island United will be playing for the Regional championship from June 30 to July 5 in Barboursville, West Virginia and Eastern New York will help pay for their costs.
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.
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.
