Smithtown Spirit’s emphatic 5-1 win gives them Girls Under-19 State Open Cup title
(Via Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association) – The Smithtown Spirit of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) ran out of gas in their 3-1 overtime loss to the New York Rush Patriots 95 two years ago in the State Open Cup final but they were prepared this year.
They had the better of play from the opening whistle to defeat the Rising Stars Blasters of the Central New York State Youth Soccer League, 5-1, to give Smithtown Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association’s (ENYYSA) Girls-Under-19 State Open Cup championship. The final was played at the Peter Collins Soccer Park in Plainview on June 7.
“Since our players came home from college, we have been training three and four times a week,” commented Smithtown coach J.R. Balzarini. “I’m very happy for these girls who have been together since Under-12.”
Makaela Friedman, Taylor Groth, Seaver Lipshe, Sloane Lipshie and Dani Valente scored for Smithtown. The team will play in the Regionals from June 26 to July 1 in Kingston, Rhode Island.
Rising Stars received the Howard Rubenstein Sportsmanship Award as selected by the match officials. Now retired, Mr. Rubenstein was seemingly involved in every facet of New York soccer for decades and is a member of the Halls of Fame of Eastern New York, the US Amateur Soccer Association and the LIJSL.
