LI Girls Soccer Team Headed To Portugal After Championship Season

SMITHTOWN, NY — A Smithtown girls soccer team is preparing to take its game overseas after winning a league championship and earning an invitation to compete in Portugal this summer.

The Smithtown Kickers / Long Island Slammers G2014 team, also known as the Smithtown Kickers Phoenix, is scheduled to compete in the Iber Cup in Estoril, Portugal, from June 29 through July 5.

The team earned its bid after winning the LIJSL Elite Club Alliance League, organizers said.

The Iber Cup brings youth soccer teams from around the world together for high-level competition. For the Slammers, the trip is more than a soccer opportunity. It is the result of years of practices, games, friendships and family support.

Several of the girls have been playing together since they were in elementary school, with some beginning in Smithtown’s intramural program around ages 4, 5 or 6.

The team has continued together through the Smithtown travel soccer program and now plays at the Pre-ECRL level, a competitive youth travel level designed to prepare players for higher-level competition.

This season, the Slammers proved themselves against some of the strongest girls soccer teams on Long Island. Scott Morgan, travel director for Smithtown Kickers Soccer Club, said the team went undefeated against some of the toughest U12 girls teams on Long Island, including Rockville Centre, Northport and Stony Brook.

By winning the league, the Slammers earned a bid to the Iber Cup, where they will have the chance to compete against youth soccer teams from around the world.

The team is made up of 14 young athletes, with nine expected to make the trip overseas, according to organizers.

“I am both super excited and proud of the opportunity for my girls to compete on an international stage at the Iber Cup in Portugal,” Coach Matt Chin said. “It is without coincidence. They earned this through countless hours of hard work, dedication and preparation. This once-in-a-lifetime experience is a milestone to build confidence while honoring this unforgettable journey. They get to share this dream with girls from all over the world with the same aspirations.”

Families said the timing of the event, which overlaps with the July 4 holiday week, created conflicts for some players who had prior plans before the team received the invitation.

Still, for those who are able to attend, parents and coaches said the trip represents a rare opportunity for the girls to test themselves on a larger stage while representing their community overseas.

The families are working to raise money to help cover the cost of travel and participation. The team’s fundraising goal is about $25,000, and organizers said they have raised about $12,000 so far.

Completed fundraisers include a sponsored night at Buffalo Wild Wings, a social media raffle, business sponsorships and donations from local companies. The team has continued to seek community support through raffles, sponsorships and restaurant fundraising events.

A Chipotle fundraiser is scheduled for June 6 in Hauppauge, where 25 percent of proceeds during the event window will benefit the team when customers mention the Slammers at checkout.

The team also plans to run raffles at Smithtown Day on June 7, with winners selected at the end of the festival. Organizers said the girls are also seeking business sponsorships and donations.

Sponsors can support the team through donations or by purchasing banners to be displayed at Moriches Park in St. James.

Linda Mucaria, whose daughter Francesca is on the team, said the trip is about helping the girls see what is possible.

“This experience is about much more than soccer; it's about empowering young female athletes to believe in themselves and embrace challenges,” Mucaria said. “Competing against teams from around the world will help the girls grow both on and off the field while showing them how much they share in common with other young athletes across different cultures.”

For the players, the trip will mean facing teams from other countries, experiencing a new culture and sharing the field with other girls who have the same passion for soccer. For their families, it is also a reminder of how far the team has come.

Many of the girls grew up playing together through most of elementary school and are now in sixth grade.

Colleen Morgan, whose daughter Payton is on the team, said opportunities like the Iber Cup can have an impact far beyond the final score.

“Opportunities like this are incredibly important for young girls, giving them the chance to compete, grow, and see what they are capable of on a larger stage,” Morgan said. “The experience not only develops their soccer skills, but also builds confidence, resilience, and friendships that will stay with them long after the tournament ends.”

More information about the team’s fundraising efforts is available at the Smithtown Slammers website.