Manhattan Paris Saint-Germain downs Smithtown Arsenal to win Eastern NY State Open Cup U-18 Boys title
(ENYYSA / Randy Vogt) – A State Open Cup final with the past two national champions is as rare an event as a solar eclipse. But on May 31 in LaGrange, the planets aligned and Manhattan Paris Saint-Germain, 2014 national champions, played Smithtown Arsenal, 2013 national champs, in the Boys-Under-18 State Open Cup final.
Before the big match, Smithtown coach Tom Lips said, “Manhattan is dynamic, they’re resilient and they are always in our way. And they would say the same thing about us.”
Manhattan’s Jack Harrison scored in the fifth minute, then Daniel O’Grady scored on a penalty kick plus Amara Sessay and Sam Farman scored insurance goals as Manhattan won, 4-0. Keeper Gerard Amigon had the shutout in goal.
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This game was the fifth time these wonderful teams have met in the State Open Cup final. Manhattan, from the Westchester Youth Soccer District, beat the Long Island Junior Soccer League’s Smithtown twice in the final and Smithtown defeated Manhattan three times in the title game. Both teams have won the State Open Cup three times as Manhattan defeated Ramapo Valley in the 2014 championship match.
“I think we came ready to play and really wanted to win our third State Open Cup title,” commented Manhattan coach Wilson Egidio. “In preparing for Regionals, we went easy last week but picked up speed this week with a focus on fitness, then tactical work leading to the tournament.”
They will be playing in the Regionals from June 26 to 30 in Barboursville, West Virginia and received a $2,000 check from the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) to defray their costs during the National Championship Series.
Manhattan also received the Howard Rubinstein Sportsmanship Award for the Fair Play they displayed and will add that award to their overflowing trophy case.
