As we near the end of the football season, our friend in Exeter will be going down to league 2 as a sub-par season ends. Our friends in Liverpool look to salvage a down year with a win vs Chelsea in the FA Cup final. The foundation is planning a trip to England in August. We will let you know our schedule as soon as it becomes available.
Sergio’s Alma Mater – Holy Cross High School will be holding their 30th Annual Golf and Tennis Classic at Engineers Country Club on Monday June 25th. They will be honoring Sergio and 15 other Holy Cross graduates who lost their lives on Sept. 11th. Breakfast, BBQ Lunch, Cocktail Hour, Dinner, and Live Auction are included in the cost.
To register follow the link:
http://community.holycrosshs.org/events/event_details.asp?id=132416
The Firefighter Sergio Villanueva Soccer Foundation hopes you and your loved ones had a happy and healthy New Year.
The holidays are always a tough time for those who have lost loved ones, but faith sometimes allow you to rejoice in the blessings that surround you.
The EPL is heating up as Man City has come back to reality, while Man U and Spurs challenge for the top spot. Our friends at Exeter (League One) have played well after a slow start and look to improve their position a few spots above the relegation zone.
Hofstra University Men’s and Women’s team represented the foundation well during the season and look to improve upon their finish next year.
Holy Cross Boys Soccer continues to play hard while advancing to the CHSAA quarterfinals.
From all of us at the Sergio Soccer Foundation, may your New Year be filled with lots of goals, no red cards, and all good wishes
Jon Kanovsky
The FDNY regained the Mayor’s Cup after a hard-fought, thrilling contest this past Saturday that was decided on Penalty Kicks. Over 2,000 fans cheered on both teams at RedBulls Arena on a hot, muggy night.
The first half was tightly played with both sides feeling each other out, but the FDNY Club took the lead with less than a minute left in the first half on a beautiful cross to the 6 yard line which was headed in.
The NYPD Club came out on fire (sorry, boys) in the second half and completely dominated play. Chance after chance, however, was turned aside by a FDNY squad determined to avenge last year’s 3-1 defeat. The pressure proved to much and with 8 minutes left in the second half, a beautiful run down the left hand side was rewarded as an NYPD forward beat the FDNY goalie and tied the game. FDNY had one last chance in the final minutes but the NYPD came up with an incredible save.
The friendly came down to penalty kicks and the FDNY was perfect and ended up winning the Mayor’s Cup with a 5-4 advantage in PK’s.
Over $5,000 was raised for the FF Sergio Villanueva Soccer Foundation and the Widow’s and Orphan’s Fund. A huge thank you to the RedBulls staff for hosting this great contest.
The 3rd Annual Battle on the Pitch returns this Saturday, Sept. 24th at RED BULLS Arena in Harrison. The Battle will take place immediately following the RedBulls vs Portland Timbers game which starts at 7:30.
The FDNY Club will look for revenge after last year’s 3-1 loss. Both teams are practicing hard and expect both squads to come out fired up.
A portion of each ticket will benefit the FF Sergio Villanueva Soccer Foundation.
Please contact the foundation at number10@sergiosoccerfoundation.org or call the RedBulls Ticket Office for more information.
This summer I had the opportunity to travel to Greenland to enjoy a 10 day backpacking trip. The last thing I expected to find during my adventure was anything related to the world’s game. Much to my surprise I was mistaken.
After a 2 hour plane ride and a 90 minute boat ride through pack ice, I arrived in the town of Tassilaq (pop. 1900). The center of town is dominated by a regulation soccer pitch. This pitch is lined on Friday and is used by the whole village from dawn to dusk on Saturday.
I then took a 2 hour boat ride and a 10 hour hike thru a valley to Kuggermit Point. We camped here for three days and previous guest left a soccer ball. You are viewing what possibly be the only shot of our Executive Director kicking a soccer ball
The next day would truly illustrate to me why we call soccer the World’s Game. After a 20 minute boat ride, I arrived in the little village of Tinnit. This coastal outpost is 20 miles south of the Polar Ice Cap and has a population of 125. After a short hike into the middle of town, I came across the school kids of Tinnit warming up for their daily soccer game. It would be foreign to most of us to play on a small dirt pitch with wooden pallets as goals with a large boulder on the right side of the field (home field advantage), but these boys and girls outfitted in UMBRO pinnies wearing uniforms of Brazil, Barcelona, and Chelsea know no other way. After inviting me to warm up, (which consisted of a 2 mile run through the hills of Tinnit), and running a little more than 150 yards, I told the trainer that I would wait by the pitch. After their warm up, the kids played a spirited game of football where skills, honed by hours of practice, were displayed. I felt honored to view this game that was played with the tenacity of most Premier League matches and now truly understand what is meant by the WORLDS GAME.
4 Year Sergio Villanueva Scholarship recepient -Hofstra defender Richard Martinez (Highland, N.Y.) was named the Puerto Rico Men’s Soccer Player of the Year by Primera Hora newspaper for the 2010 calendar year.
It was a busy day for the Hofstra Soccer Program this past Sunday.
The men were playing in the CAA final vs William and Mary after an incredible win in the Semi’s on Friday. Playing a man down, Hofstra scored 2 goals in the final five minutes (game winner on PK with 5 seconds left) to vault themselves into the finals. HU played W & M to a 0-0 first half tie, but once the Tribe scored HU pushed forward allowing a few easy goals to end up with a 4-0 final. Nevertheless, great applause to Coach Nuttall and the boys for never giving up, demonstrating great work ethic, and their effort would make Sergio proud.
The ladies played on Sunday after a routine win against perinniel power UConn. A quick goal gave them a 1-0 lead that was never relinquished. The game against BC in the round of 32 was much closer than the 5-0 opening day loss. The ladies proved much tougher this time out going down to a 3-1 defeat. The ladies finished 19-3 and we at the foundation are proud to share in their success as 3 scholarship winners (Tiffany Yovino, Brittany Butts, and Nikki Choeffel) played major roles in the success.
Coach Riddough and Coach Nuttall have been extremely supportive of the foundation and have always been willing to lend an extra hand when necessary. Well done lads, Cheers on two great season
This weekend is a big one for the Hofstra Soccer Programs. 4 scholarship recipients will have extended playing time this year
The Men’s team play in the CAA tournament this weekend and while their task is not easy, two wins will allow them to qualify for the College Cup. The boys have played brilliantly down the stretch, going 4-0-2, to move from 11th place to a 3rd place finish in Conference play. Good luck to Coach Nuttall and the boys.
The women travel to Boston College on Friday to play in the NCAA Women’s College Cup. First round play opens up at 7 pm vs Connecticut at Boston College. A win versus the Lady Huskies will allow the women to avenge their opening day loss as their probable opponent will be Boston College. The ladies have had a remarkable season finishing at 18-2. This team is comprised of some special young women who have shown incredible heart all year. I welcome all our fans in the Massachussets area to come out root for the women. Good Luck to Coach Riddiough and the Ladies
