MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ – SUNY Plattsburgh
DEREK JARAMILLO – STONEHILL

Lakeland wins the 2023 Winter League Championship by beating Eastchester 3-2 in overtime.

Johnny Denis | “Honduras Call-Up Means The World.”

By Caroline Oatway
Friday, Feb 3, 2023 at 01:00 PM

New York City Football Club forward Johnny Denis says he is honored to have received his first call-up to the Honduran National Team.
In the same week the striker turned 25 he also learned that he has been selected by Diego Vásquez to take part in a national team training camp for the first time. A proud moment for both player and his family, the recognition arrived after a strong campaign for NYCFC II in the inaugural MLS NEXT Pro season, where Denis recorded 14 goals in 18 games.
Born in New York, Denis had previously represented the US Youth National Team but had always hoped to don the shirt of Honduras; an homage to his family roots.
With his dream about to be realized, the forward could not hide his delight, adding the news means the world to him and his family.
“It feels kind of surreal,” he admitted. “I wasn’t expecting it, but I feel honored.
Johnny Denis
“I get to represent my grandparents’ country. I have a lot of love for Honduras. It means so much to my family. I’m making them proud, and it’s one of the best feelings for me. I’m happy I could do it. It’s an honor. I’m more than excited and ready to perform to my best, and hopefully, put in a good performance.”
Denis’ love of soccer is inspired by several members of his family having played the sport, and the forward has also ascribed his hunger to his Honduran heritage.
“They’re all soccer players,” he revealed. “They didn’t play at the highest level but they had a passion for it. My dad is from Uruguay, so soccer is very big there, and my grandparents also had a big passion for the sport.
“I think there is [a Honduran trait] – that hunger of always trying to prove yourself is in my game. Because Honduras hasn’t had the most notable, successful team, they’ve always been having to fight the giants of Concacaf: the USA, Mexico… and we’ve always had that chip on our shoulder! So, I think that that idea has always been with me.”
Currently in Los Angeles, enjoying the experience of a First Team training camp with Nick Cushing’s senior squad, Denis is putting no limits on his ambitions, be it with Club or country.
“I just want to perform to my best and do whatever I have to do for us to win,” he concluded.
“That that’s the priority, and if that comes with me scoring goals or giving assists, then great. I’m just ready to have another breakout season with New York City FC – be it with New York City FC or Honduras, I’m just very excited for what’s to come.”

NYCFC will kick off the 2023 MLS season on Feb. 25 when we visit Nashville SC at GEODIS Park (4:30 pm ET | MLS Season Pass).
News

2022 lohud Player of the Year

Nico Galeano
School: Scarsdale
Year: Senior
Position: Midfield

Highlights: Galeano led the Raiders to a NYSPHSAA Class AA title by example. He delivered 11 goals and 13 assists. Galeano was named All-American, All-Northeast Region, New York State Player of the Year and Section 1 large school Player of the Year.

The rest of the first team

Rhaymani Alexander
School: White Plains
Year: Senior
Position: Forward

Highlights: Alexander finished with 19 goals and seven assists. He netted five playoff goals and four game-winners. He was named All-Northeast Region, All-State and All-Section.

Ryan Eng-Wong
School: Haldane
Year: Senior
Position: Forward

Highlights: Wong had 38 goals and two assists, leading the Blue Devils to a NYSPHSAA Class C title. He was named All-State and All-Section.

Leo Khang
School: Scarsdale
Year: Sophomore
Position: Forward

Highlights: Khang delivered a team-high 12 goals and six assists for the Class AA state champion Raiders. He was named All-Section.

Lucas Buono
School: Yorktown
Year: Senior
Position: Midfielder

Highlights: Buono was the defensive anchor of a 20-1 Huskers team that gave up just six goals and won the Section 1 Class A championship. He was named All-Northeast Region, All-State and All-Section.

Lorenzo Galeano
School: Scarsdale
Year: Sophomore
Position: Midfield

Highlights: Galeano collected 11 goals and 13 assists despite a late-season injury. He was a go-to scorer at states. Galeano was named All-State and All-Section.

Michael Rodriguez
School: Lakeland
Year: Senior
Position: Midfield

Highlights: Rodriguez was ever on the prowl, leading the Hornets with 15 goals and 16 assists. He was named All-State and All-Section.

Aidan Heffner
School: Byram Hills
Year: Senior
Position: Defense

Highlights: Heffner contributed eight goals and 10 assists from the back. He was named All-State and All-Section.

Will Sniffen
School: Haldane
Year: Senior
Position: Defense

Highlights: Sniffen was the defensive catalyst for a team that posted 11 shutouts on the way to a NYSPHSAA Class C title. He was named All-State and All-Section.

Jonas van Beurden
School: Rye
Year: Senior
Position: Defense

Highlights: Van Beurden led a defense that gave up less than a goal per game and pushed forward enough to manage 13 goals and five assists. He was named All-Section.

J.P. Frucco
School: Yorktown
Year: Senior
Position: Goalie

Highlights: Frucco had a hand in 15 shutouts this season, helping the Huskers to the Section 1 Class A championship. He was named All-Section.

Second team
Tommy Broderick, Jr., F, Rye
Brandon Dhanoolal, Jr., F, Irvington
Dan Paridis, Sr., F, Hackley
Clem Grossman, Jr., MF, Haldane
Ethan Klar, Sr., MF, Briarcliff
Will Redman, Sr., MF, Bronxville
Daniel Santos, Sr., MF, New Rochelle
Miles Prosperino, Jr., D, Briarcliff
Alex Prevost, Jr., D, Mamaroneck
Gordon Walsh, Sr., D, Greeley
Lucas Kantor, Jr., G, Scarsdale

Honorable mention
Dennis Argueta, Sr., F, Fox Lane; David Beitler, Sr., MF, Yorktown; Derek Bilyeu, Sr., D, Bronxville; Subhro Biswas, Sr., D, Pleasantville; Austin Caparelli, Sr., D, Ossining; Jair Cano, Sr., MF, White Plains; Connor Daly, Jr., MF, Lakeland; Miles Demarest, Sr., G, Irvington; Koky Duarte, Jr., MF, Panas; Caleb Elias, Sr., MF, North Salem; Andrew Fajardo, Sr., D, White Plains; Emre Ferahoglu, Sr., D, Eastchester; Callum Gallagher, Jr., MF, Sleepy Hollow; Ellison Garcia, Jr., MF, Lincoln; Jonathan Garita, So., G, Hamilton; Jesse Goldsetein, Sr., F, Byram Hills; Bryan Jaramillo, Sr., F, Lakeland; Brandon Jaundoo, Sr., MF, Dobbs Ferry; John Latorre, So., D, New Rochelle; Alex Lenaghan, So., F, Ossining; Jake Levine, Sr., D, Yorktown; Christopher Loja, Sr., D, Peekskill; Rene Lopez, Sr., MF, New Rochelle; Kyle Klammer, Sr., F, Carmel; Ermin Mackic, Sr., MF/F Riverside; Zeke Manly, Sr., MF, Hastings; Daniel Martinez, Sr., F, Roosevelt; Diego Martinez, Sr., MF, Sleepy Hollow; Declan McLaughlin, Jr., MF, Eastchester; Marcus Nahim, Sr., F, Iona Prep; Chijindu Nwaigwe, Sr., F, Gorton; Carlos Ochoa, Jr., D, Gorton; Dylan Pray, Sr., D, Westlake; Owen Rubio-Heeney, Sr., D, Valhalla; Will Shah, Sr., F, Edgemont; Yu Shimizu, Sr., MF, Keio; Braiden Sottile, Jr., MF, Harrison; Liam Stapleton, Jr., MF, Croton; Christian Thewes, Sr., F, Rye Neck; Tobias Thurston, Jr., F, Dobbs Ferry; Anthony Tucci, Sr., G, Somers; Albert Van Ness, Sr., D, Bronxville; Tiago Vargas, Sr., MF, Hamilton; Noah Vienne, Sr., D, Rye Neck; Eytan Vittorio, Jr., MF, Leffell; Colin Waring, Sr., MF, Mahopac; Diego Weiss, Sr., MF, Greeley; Sohma Yamauchi, Sr., F, Keio.

ALL LEAGUE and ALL SECTION
– Connor Daly (junior)
– Bryan Jaramillo (senior)
– Michael Rodriguez (senior)

ALL LEAGUE and ALL SECTION HONORABLE MENTION
– Derek Jaramillo (senior)
– Arjun Parambath (junior)
– David Rodriguez (junor)

ALL LEAGUE
– Anthony Villa (junior)