(Smithtown, NY) The Smithtown Arsenal became just the seventh Long Island Junior Soccer League team, and the first since 2007, to win a national championship when they defeated GSA Phoenix (GA), 2-0 in the Boys U-16 championship final of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Tournament in Overland Park, KS. Arsenal is also just the third boys’ team sponsored by the LIJSL (2000 U17 West Babylon Panthers and 2007 U18 Terryville Fire) to bring home a national title.
Smithtown Arsenal All Stars: From L to R, Steven Dovi, Noah Varonier, and TJ Butzke were named to the National Best 11 Team at the end of the tournament.
Smithtown Arsenal 2013 Nationals: The Smithtown Arsenal won the Boys U16 National Championship at the US Youth Soccer National Tournament in Overland Park, KS
The Arsenal advanced to the championship game after completing an undefeated slate in pool play that included a 1-0 victory over two-time defending national champion Fullerton Rangers. Arsenal was the first team to score on the Rangers this season.
Smithtown’s TJ Butzke received the Golden Ball Award, given to the top offensive player in the tournament, and teammate Noah Varonier was the recipient of the Golden Glove Award as the tournament’s top goalkeeper. Both boys and teammate Steven Dovi were named to the National Best 11 team at the end of the tournament.
“Congratulations to all of the players, coaches, and parents of the Smithtown Arsenal on this tremendous accomplishment,” said LIJSL President Addie Mattei-Iaia. “Winning a national championship is an experience that very few people ever know, and one that these families won’t soon forget. All of the hard work and sacrifice that goes into achieving this goal has created memories that will last a lifetime for all involved. We couldn’t be prouder.”
The complete Arsenal roster includes: Casey Abelein, Christopher Abruzzo, Matthew Aprile, Steven Braccioforte, TJ Butzke, Steven Dovi, Jake Giuffrida, Matthew Hellerman, Christopher Hettler, Beau Hornberger, Moosah Khanat, Joseph Lomonaco, Matthew McDonnell, Zach Pogrob, Alejandro Ruiz, Antonio Scanni, Garrett Sweeney, Douglas Toledo, Noah Varonier, and Harrison Weilbacher.
The Arsenal was one of two LIJSL teams that qualified for the national tournament. The Boys-U15 Dix Hills Elite also advanced to their championship final, but fell to the Santa Barbara Soccer Club (CA), 2-1 in overtime. This is the first time since 2000 that two Long Island Junior Soccer League teams have advanced to the national championship game in the same year. That year the Boys U17 West Babylon Panthers won the national championship while the Girls U19 Northport-Cow Harbor Piranha lost in the final.
“We are extremely proud of the players and coaches of both the Smithtown Arsenal and Dix Hills Elite for their outstanding play, and congratulate them on reaching this great milestone,” said Mattei-Iaia. “They have been a credit to their families and their communities in the way they have carried themselves on and off the field, and they have been outstanding representatives for both the Long Island Junior Soccer League and Long Island as a whole.”
For Arsenal, this is their second trip to the national tournament in the last three years. They qualified for this year’s championships by winning the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association’s State Cup competition and US Soccer’s Region I championship tournament. The Elite qualified by way of a second place finish in US Youth Soccer National League play.
The Long Island Junior Soccer League is a 501c3 not for profit organization focused on increasing services and programs designed to benefit children, and promoting and growing the sport of soccer on Long Island. The LIJSL currently serves over 60,000 youth soccer players on 101 clubs across Long Island. It is the mission of the league to foster the growth and development of youth through the sport of soccer to individuals under the age of nineteen at all levels of competition.
