East Islip Dragons win Triple Crown

Shown, left to right, standing are Assistant Coach Frank Santoro, #16 Kayla Roundsman, #3 Gianna Jennosa, #4 Kayla Saager, #6 Morgan Santoro, #8 Aly Conley, #1 Renee Tassa, #2 Sarah McGarry and Coach Eddie Eng and kneeling are #21 Alexandra Peluso, #11 Sydney Cammeyer, Goalkeeper Erin Hannigan, #22 Tori D'Acunto, #5 Carlee Ancona and #9 Jennifer Eng.

The two-time Long Island Junior Soccer League Sportsmanship Award recipients, the East Islip Red Dragons, have now won youth soccer's Triple Crown.The Triple Crown is the nearly impossible task of winning the State Cup, Waldbaum's Challenge and LIJSL division title. Only four out of 1,488 LIJSL teams won the Triple Crown in 2007. East Islip currently has a 20-game streak without a loss.

In the Girls Under 11 State Cup final on June 2, the Red Dragons defeated Clarkstown 96, 7-1, after leading 5-0 at halftime. Four East Islip goals were scored by their leading scorer, forward Kayla Saager, two goals by their second-leading scorer, forward Aly Conley, plus one goal by midfielder Morgan Santoro.

"Morgan gave Clarkstown all they could handle and provided great service for the two forwards from the right flank," commented head coach Eddie Eng. "All the girls played great. I can't say enough good things about everyone's play, it was one of those games where everything was clicking."

East Islip also took great pride in winning the Howard Rubenstein Sportsmanship Award for the entire State Cup tournament.

"Winning the Triple Crown was very difficult. I think that all the players realized how hard it was after we did it," continued Coach Eng. "Once we won the State Cup in early June, we were able to avoid a letdown since there were two weeks left in the season."

In the Waldbaum's Challenge final on June 17, the Red Dragons beat the Massapequa Stars, 2-0, with forward Kayla Saager and midfielder Renee Tessa supplying the goals. Keeper Erin Hannigan had the shutout in goal.

"The game ball went to center defender Kayla Roundsman for her flawless play providing the backbone of the defense, denying opportunities to the high- scoring Massapequa team time and time again. She was assisted by the outstanding play of right defender Gianna Jennosa and left defender Tori D'Acunto as well as goalkeeper Erin Hannigan," Coach Eng added.

In Girls Under 11, Division S1, East Islip compiled a 8-0-1 record, the only tie coming against their neighbors with the oxymoron for a nickname, the West Islip Silent Thunder.

"The key to winning the Triple Crown was teamwork," their coach stated. "We have some key players but the entire team's effort gave us the Triple Crown."

The Red Dragons have won four consecutive LIJSL Division 1 titles and two consecutive Waldbaum's championships. 2007 was their first year of State Cup eligibility.

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