By Anonymous (not verified), March 15, 2022
By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
March 14, 2022-In another sign that society is starting to return to normal, the Long Island Cup returns this weekend.
The Long Island Cup is the springtime cup competition of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), the largest league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA). It originated in the early 1980’s but was not played in 2020 as spring soccer was canceled across New York State because of the pandemic. It was not held again last year since the LIJSL focused on league play as it was competing for fields with the return of diverse scholastic sports on Long Island. So the 2022 competition is the first Long Island Cup in three years. With nearly 1,300 travel teams competing, it is one of the largest single elimination youth soccer competitions in the world.
Teams are divided into 77 divisions––42 boys and 35 girls divisions––based on age and ability so every LIJSL team competing has a legitimate chance to win the Long Island Cup.
“We are very excited for the return of Long Island Cup this spring,” explained LIJSL Managing Director Steve Padaetz. “With tiered play, there can be three or more levels of competition in each age, gender group providing every team an opportunity to become a Long Island Cup champion.”
The brackets have been drawn and the first round will be played this weekend, March 19 and 20, on teams’ home fields in Suffolk, Nassau and Queens. The fun continues with round two on the weekend of April 23 and 24 plus round three on May 7 and 8. The semifinals will be played on May 21 and 22. All these games will be played at teams’ home fields.
The 77 championship games will be played all weekend on June 11 and 12 at the Half Hollow Hills Soccer Complex in Melville. This centrally-located venue is the longtime home of the Huntington Boys Club (HBC).
For more info about the Long Island Cup, please contact the LIJSL at 631-648-9020.
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 nine 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.