LI Soccer Crowns Its Champions for 2012

Friday, 21 September 2012 00:00

LI’s top amateur league celebrates national title and local champions

As it does every year, the Long Island Soccer Futebol League (LISFL), based out of Hicksville, held its annual general meeting and awards night at the Plattdeutch Restaurant in August where it honored its adult amateur soccer champions for the 2011/12 season. The notable trophy on the dais was a large silver cup, the U23 National Cup won by league veterans Real Caribe from Laurelton. From Division 1 to the new Women’s Division, each respective champion was crowned, cheered on by the over 200 people in attendance.

“This league means a lot to me personally,” said league president and State association vice-president Gus Xikis. “This year we have new ideas, new goals to help spur the growth of soccer across the whole Island.” Xikis is also a cup chairman for the United States Adult Soccer Association and was with Real Caribe for their National Championship this summer; only the LISFL’s second ever national trophy (first was 1984). “My congratulations go out to the hard work and dedication that this club put into this tournament, the cup is only a fraction of what these young kids received in personal enrichment.”

Also honored was Willie Dempsey of the New York Irish Rovers, who in addition to receiving the 25 years of service award by the state association earlier this year, was named a Life-Member for 2012 in honor of his decades of service to LI soccer. Jack Dafonte of the Mineola Portuguese Soccer Club also received his 25 Years of service award from the state while Huntley Swaby (Real Caribe), Nicole Seaton (North Bellport), and Gabriel Marques (Mineola Portuguese SC) were honored for their community service by receiving the President’s Award.

The full list of honored clubs and their hometowns are listed below:

U23 National Champions – Real Caribe (Laurelton)

Amoroso State Cup Champions – Polonia (Manhasset)

Cangero Super Cup Champions – Integral Kings (Rosedale)

Division 1 - Integral Kings (Rosedale)

Division 2 - Real Caribe (Laurelton)

Division 3 - South Shore (Freeport)

Over-30A - Integral Kings (Rosedale) & Oceanside

Over 30B - Port Jefferson

Over 40 - Lindenhurst

Women - South Shore (Freeport)

For more information on the Long Island Soccer Football League, please visit www.lisfl.org.