By Anonymous (not verified), June 10, 2025
From ENYYSA
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
June 9, 2025-The Merrick/South Merrick PAL Sharks defeated East Coast FC Red, 6-1, in the Boys-Under-10 Platinum Challenge Cup final, organized by the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), on Sunday, June 1 at the Blue Sky Sports Complex in Middletown.
“The ground was heavy so that took away from our playing style,” explained Merrick/South Merrick coach Manfred Kapper. “So the game became a matter of hustle. We scored the first goal and took it from there.”
Angelo Amanna scored a three-goal hat trick, Christian Nicholson netted two goals and Nick Spataro had one to pace Merrick/South Merrick.
Coach Kapper added, “A community-driven team such as ours can sometimes be a disadvantage so that’s why I’m even more proud of this team.”
East Coast received the Rocco Amoroso Sportsmanship Award as determined by the game officials. Amoroso, a US Soccer Life Member who died nine 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.