Smithtown Spirit’s Emphatic 5-1 Win Gives Them the Girls-Under-19 State Open Cup Final

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, who received a $2,000 check from Eastern New York to defer the costs of playing in the Regionals from June 26 to July 1 in Kingston, Rhode Island.