Dix Hills Elite U-17 Boys win their third Eastern New York State Open Cup title

(ENYYSA / Randy Vogt) – The Dix Hills Elite did not give up a goal and outscored their opponents, 15-0, in the five games they played to win the Boys-Under-17 State Open Cup. This is Dix Hills’ third State Open Cup title and they were 2013 national finalists. The Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) team defeated Yonkers United Celtic of the Westchester Youth Soccer District (WYSD), 1-0, in the championship game played on a rainy day on May 31 in LaGrange.

“It was a typical final with two teams with very set ways of playing,” commented Dix Hills coach Phil Murray. “The weather was difficult, the play was physical and we did a very good job of containing a very good team.”

Spencer Manus scored on a penalty kick late in the second half for the only goal of the game after a Dix Hills attacker was held on a corner kick.

The two-time State Open Cup champs received a $2,000 check from the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) to defray their costs during the Regionals from June 26 to 30 in Barboursville, West Virginia.

As Boys-Under-17 State Open Cup champs, Dix Hills brought the new Jose Vargas Cup back to Long Island. The award’s namesake was an Eastern New York Hall of Famer who was an enthusiastic ref for decades and served as State Referee Administrator, State Youth Referee Administrator and State Director of Assessment, three of the top referee positions in Eastern New York. But his soccer expertise was not confined to refereeing as he volunteered as President of the East Hudson Youth Soccer League as well as President of the East Fishkill Soccer Club.