By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
February 28, 2022-Former Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) President Peter Masotto passed away at 78 years old on February 27.
”I am very sad to learn of the passing of my friend, Peter, who always put the players first in everything he did,” commented ENYYSA President Richard Christiano.
Masotto served as ENYYSA President for an amazing 23 years from 1984 to 2006 and was an Eastern New York Board Member for 27 years. Until his death, he was still volunteering with ENYYSA in selecting the four girls recipients annually for the Patricia Louis Masotto/Brenda Driscoll Scholarship and the Jack Bauman Scholarship.
As a coach, Masotto is best known for guiding the Massapequa Falcons to the 1986 Girls Under-19 national championship and to the 1987 final. The Falcons won eight State Open Cup crowns and three East Region titles. Masotto coached several Girls-Under-19 teams to 16 state titles in 17 years, a feat unmatched in the history of our sport in any age group, girls or boys. He also directed the Northport/Cow Harbor Elite into the 1994 national final. All his teams competed in the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL).
Masotto was honored as US Youth Soccer Girls Coach of the Year in both 1984 and 1996. He is the only person ever to receive this award more than once, which is a testament to how great a coach he was.
He was held in such high esteem that he was named Ambassador and General Manager of the US Women's National Team during their tour of Australia a generation ago and was drafted by many other states to run for US Soccer Vice President.
The Babylon resident was inducted into four Soccer Halls of Fame: Eastern New York (1998), LIJSL (1999), East Hudson Youth Soccer League (2004) and East Region (2013). He also was named a Life Member of Eastern New York and US Soccer.
Eastern New York’s Girls-Under-16 State Open Cup champions receive the Peter Masotto Cup every June. The Girls-Under-16 national championship was once named after his daughter, Patricia Louise Masotto, who was tragically killed by a drunken driver along with teammate Brenda Driscoll in 1985.
We have lost a very good man. May he rest in peace!
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. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/