By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
November 15, 2019-The East Hudson Youth Soccer League (EHYSL), with nearly 350 travel teams in eight counties, honored those who have particularly made a difference on Hudson Valley soccer fields with its Hall of Fame Dinner last Saturday, November 9 at the Villa Borghese in Wappingers Falls.
“The evening featured the induction of two new members into the East Hudson Hall of Fame,” explained EHYSL President Jim Purdy. “Rheyan Cader was inducted as both a longtime coach and administrator with the Beacon Soccer Club. He’s been a major player in the growth of youth soccer in the Beacon area for the last 20-plus years and is a great asset to the league.”
From left to right: EHYSL Hall of Famer Ken Gulmi, new Hall of Famer Rheyan Cader, EHYSL President Jim Purdy
President Purdy continued, “Also inducted into the Hall of Fame was Chris Pangalos, a former Mahopac Soccer Club player who went on to All-Section, All-State and All-American honors and attended Keene State on a full scholarship. Of particular note, Chris’ father, also named Chris, was a league founder and first league President.”
From left to right: Jody Campbell, EHYSL Volunteer of the Year Bohdan Demczar, EHYSL Girls Recreational Coach of the Year Erin Hanlon (all from the Town of Poughkeepsie Soccer Club) with EHYSL President Jim Purdy
The selections of Hall of Famers and the “Of the Year” Award recipients were made from nominations submitted by EHYSL volunteers.
From left to right: East Fishkill VP Nick Bueti, EHYSL Girls Travel Team Coach of the Year Carie Koehler, East Fishkill President Brian Horos (all from the East Fishkill Soccer Club) with EHYSL President Jim Purdy
Also honored but not pictured was East Fishkill’s Matt Angyal, selected as the EHYSL Administrator of the Year. Congratulations to all the award recipients!
From left to right: Dover United Director of Coaching Aaron Kelly, EHYSL Boys Recreational Coach of the Year Mark Taylor (both from Dover United Soccer Club) with EHYSL President Jim Purdy. All photos courtesy of the EHYSL.
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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 Association. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.