By MIKE SABINI
August 12, 2020 at 12:43 PM

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Lakeland 2016 graduate Johnny Denis continued his climb up the soccer ranks earlier this summer, when he signed to play with the New York Cosmos of the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA).

“It means a great deal, and I am humbled to be given the opportunity to play for such a historical team in the U.S.,” Denis said. “Becoming a professional soccer player has been a dream of mine since I was 5 years old. This would not be possible without my coaches, and I mean all of them, and of course the support of my family. The journey was not easy, and looking back it has taught me so much. New York Cosmos in the soccer world carries huge merit. I am so thrilled to be a part of this organization.”

Denis can play many positions from center mid to winger, but he believes his best position is attacking midfield.

Sign Up for Yorktown Newsletter
Our newsletter delivers the local news that you can trust.

He said he is thrilled to be part of a club with such a rich tradition, that goes back to the days when the Cosmos were a powerhouse in the North American Soccer League from 1970 to 1985.

“Not only is it a thrill, but an honor for me to prepare during practices and place my best effort, to cohesively work with my team to win games,” Denis said. “You fight in the moment to be recognized, throughout time. For the New York Cosmos, they will always be known for having one of the richest histories in American Futbol. To play on the team that once had players such as Pele, Bekenbauer, and Raul, wearing its jersey is surreal. As a player, it’s my responsibility to continue to do my best, on and off the field, to continue the tradition, that made this team, so special within the soccer world.”

Denis said his goals, alongside his work ethic, is to continue to develop and to get better every single day.

“I am here for whatever the team needs,” Denis said. “In playing for the Cosmos, the expectation is to win, no matter who the opponent is. For this year, I hope we dominate and I can help the team, however my coaches see fit.”

Denis feels that the Cosmos deserve to continue to be recognized and respected within the United States.

“There are many great players and coaches that, given the opportunity to compete, can develop a greater fan base to promote the team,” Denis said. “My hope is that Mr. Rocco Commisso (Cosmos’ owner) succeeds in giving the Cosmos, the recognition and importance the franchise deserves in American soccer. He is passionate about the game, and he can only complement the future of the Cosmos. I am hopeful for the best of outcomes.”

Denis has had an array of experiences already in the game of soccer, including playing in 2018 for the Under 23 Red Bulls.

“My journey, as a whole, has helped me get to the place I am today,” Denis said. “Each team has taught me so much, from high school to academy and the national team.”

Before signing with the Cosmos, Denis played Division 1 soccer at Columbia University. He said his time at Columbia was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences, thus far.

“Transitioning from a mindset that was mostly caring about soccer, to one that required that same attention for school, was not easy,” Denis said. “The soccer aspect was amazing, from the culture that was instilled on me as a freshman, to the things I learned on the field. I was afforded the opportunity to obtain a great education and meet mentors that have impacted my life. I established friendships with fellow teammates, coaches, and alumni that will always have a special place in my heart.”

Boys Soccer: Hudson Valley ID Camp Called Off
By MIKE SABINI

SHRUB OAK, N.Y. – Coach Tim Hourahan is well-known for pouring his heart and soul into the Lakeland High School boys soccer program and Section 1 soccer.

That’s why having the third annual Hudson Valley ID Camp at Lakeland, which gives players exposure to colleges, being called off cuts so deeply.

“I am absolutely gutted at how much our players have missed out on over the past four to five months, and I cannot wait to get up, and running with them all again soon,” said Hourahan, the camp director.

Our newsletter delivers the local news that you can trust.
Email Address *
Somers coach Brian Lanzetta and Mamaroneck coach Rich Becker have also been instrumental in the development of the camp.

Last year, 41 college coaches attended the event. This year, 105 players were registered, from as far east as Long Island and far north as Ulster County.

Originally, the camp was slated for the third weekend in July, like it had been the previous two years.

“However, these dates were pushed back by one month into August, in hopes that the NCAA would lift the recruiting ‘dead period,’ which would not allow any Division 1 or Division 2 coach to attend an event like this,” Hourahan said. “So, the decision was made, to move it back a month in hopes that ruling would change.”

The camp was moved to Aug. 7-9, but it got called off as the NCAA extended the “dead period” through the end of August because of coronavirus concerns.

“I am hearing now that this most likely will go through, the entire traditional fall season,” Hourahan said of the “dead period.” “Again, I know that this only pertains to D1 and D2 coaches. But when I was having some discussions if it would be worth it to just bring on D3 coaches, and maybe film camp and send away to other coaches, I just really felt that part of the allure of this camp is to have these college coaches, not only running training sessions on the field for the players, but also walking around the campus and down on field level, looking at players.”

On top of the “dead period” extension, some SUNY coaches mentioned to Hourahan that their recruiting budgets had been frozen for now, and they would not be able to travel and stay overnight, as they have in previous years.

“So, because of all of those combinations, and let’s face it, the current reality we are in, would it have really been safe for our players if we brought in more than 100 kids from eight different counties and 68 or so different school districts?” Hourahan said.

There is the possibility that the camp could run at the end of the fall or possibly early next spring.

“Even if the camp is only a one-day showcase on a smaller scale, I think it is very important, especially for our 2021 graduates, to find a way to put them on a stage where they can go compete in front of a bunch of college coaches,” Hourahan said. “These rising seniors have all already missed out on an entire spring and summer-club season, and are now currently looking at a shortened fall soccer season, at best, with the recent news out of New York State. The opportunities to play, and be seen, has been unlike any class before them, and I know that college coaches who have also not had the opportunity to watch players, are chomping at the bit to get out and recruit.”

As passionate as Hourahan is about attempting to reschedule the camp, he stresses it would only be done, under the proper circumstances.

“However, as much as I would like to get something up and running for the players, it has to be the right time and safe for our players to attend,” Hourahan said. “We can only hope that will happen sometime soon, and for the time being, I will continue to put out highlight tapes of all 105 registered players on our social media page.”

COSMOS CONTINUE TO BUILD OUT ROSTER WITH TWO ADDITIONS
Jul 16, 2020

The New York Cosmos announced Friday the signing of John Denis and CJ Weinstein for the upcoming 2020 NISA Season. Both signings are subject to USSF and NISA approval.

“We’re excited and happy to have John and CJ with us. I think they’re both going to make this a much more competitive environment,” said New York Cosmos Head Coach, Carlos Mendes. “We still have to add a few more pieces, but we’re very comfortable and happy with how our roster is coming together. We have a lot of good players, but the way they’ve gelled and gotten back into training has been such a positive and a joy to be a part of. We’re looking forward to the season.”

John Denis, a recent graduate of Columbia University, comes to the Cosmos with experience at the U-19 National Team level, where he joined former Cosmos midfielder Eric Calvillo for 2016 Copa del Atlántico. The Yorktown Heights native registered seven goals and four assists in his senior campaign and provided creativity in the Lions attack both as a midfielder and a forward in his college career. Denis also featured for the New York Red Bulls U-23 side during their 2018 season.

“I am very excited and grateful to sign with such an historic club,” said Denis. “I want to thank the coaching staff for giving me this opportunity and my teammates for taking me in with open arms. I’m thrilled to be part of the group and I am looking forward to working cohesively to meet the demands of the team.”

“John Denis has done very well since coming in,” commented Mendes. “He’s a creative player, very technical, good on the ball – he’s comfortable with going at people and making things happen. I think he’ll push our level up and bring some younger legs to our team. He’s a hard worker and I think he’ll fit in nicely with how we like to play and understand the game.”

CJ Weinstein signs his first professional contract with the Cosmos following a stint as a trialist with New York Red Bull II of the USL-Championship. Weinstein also enjoyed a successful college career at Sacred Heart University, starting forty-four games for Big Red in the past three seasons.

“From my first training session I felt the passion of all the players who brought me in and made me feel like part of the Cosmos family,” said Weinstein. “I am very excited to get started and learn from each and every player. I cannot thank the coaching staff enough for this opportunity, and I am ready to prove myself every day.”

“CJ’s someone that’s been with us in the past before finishing school, and we see a lot of potential in him,” added Mendes. “We’re excited to have him. There’s a lot of veteran guys at the back that I think will help our younger players. CJ is a very versatile player, and someone that can play a couple of different positions for us.”

The Cosmos are currently in preparations for their participation in the NISA Independent Cup as well as the NISA Fall 2020 season. Both events will be played behind closed doors, and broadcast information will be announced in the coming weeks.

Lakeland coach Tim Hourahan started a boys soccer summer league in 2008 and runs the league at Lakeland High School

By MIKE SABINI

SHRUB OAK, N.Y. – This month was supposed to mark the beginning of the Lakeland Boys Summer Soccer League.

However, all the games scheduled for June were postponed because of COVID-19.

“There was a six-week schedule in place set to start June 16, with the championship match being played on July 28,” said Tim Hourahan, league founder and director. “We have a total of 75 games to be played at Lakeland, with each team playing an 11-game round robin schedule before the playoffs.”

Sign Up for Yorktown Newsletter
Our newsletter delivers the local news that you can trust.

Hourahan, who is also the Lakeland coach, is hoping that games can be played later in the summer, but admits that’s far from certain.

“I currently have removed all five nights of summer-league play scheduled for June and moved them into August,” Hourahan said. “I am trying to remain hopeful that there will be an opportunity to play some portion of the league, even if it is shortened, this July and August. But when I am realistic about it, I fully understand that there are a ton of obstacles to overcome in order to play and to meet those standards. Sometime in July, is a long way off, at this time.”

The league is scheduled to have 12 teams in it this season: Lakeland, Yorktown, Walter Panas, Somers, Rye, Briarcliff, Byram Hills, Valhalla, John Jay (East Fishkill), Brewster, Ardsley and Eastchester. The latter two are new additions to the league.

“I was really excited to add two more teams to the league this year and bump the league from 56 to 75 total games,” Hourahan said. “And if you can believe it, there were two other high-school programs that were interested to register as well back in March, but I decided to keep at 12 for the year, mostly due to amount of time I can reserve on the fields.”

According to Hourahan, the teams that participate in the league do so because their coaches understand the importance of getting their squads together during the summer.

“High school sports, it is a lot different than it was 10 or 20 years ago,” Hourahan said. “Coaches are working with their teams year-round, including the winter and spring seasons, and our summer league has now gotten to be really competitive. It is a full-fledged league, with every high school coach on the sideline, coaching up their players like it is September. There are reporters at games, website kept for league, music playing, and the competition of the players in July, was at an all-time high last summer.”

It also helps that the teams that have played in the summer league have continually been the programs to have a ton of success in the fall.

“Just last year Rye won a sectional title, and made it to a state semifinal,” Hourahan said. “Two years ago, Somers and Briarcliff played in summer league, each winning, a sectional title on their way to the state finals. In 2016, Somers won a state title. Byram Hills, Yorktown, and Lakeland all have won sectional titles after playing in the summer league. I know for me, and for the teams that keep coming back to play in my league, that it has become a massive part of each programs’ calendar, year in and year out.”

There is also the possibility of a tournament in August.

“The idea that I have floated out there with the other coaches in the league, was that if we are unable to hold a traditional summer league, as we have since ’08, then maybe in August there will be an opportunity to run a two-or three-day tournament at Lakeland,” Hourahan said. “We’d play a bunch of shortened games throughout the day on the fields, sort of like we do on the club soccer scene. I think it can be something really cool for our players if, in fact, we are without any competitive soccer from March to August.”

Indoor Training Available at Solaris

Coach Hourahan (LAKELAND HS) and Coach Lucas (BRONXVILLE HS) will be running a 6 week small group personalized training program at Solaris June 22 – July 31

Their are many safety precautions being taken in order to meet all of the guidelines:

• 2 indoor fields (1 coach and 4-6 players per field) Only people on fields!

• No sharing of equipment between players, no competing against each other, maintaining appropriate distance during ball skill, fitness agility work etc

• Entry onto turf fields directly from parking lot, do not need to go through gym

• 15 minute buffer zone between groups so players do not cross paths and much more!

3 TIME SLOTS AVAILABLE TO SIGN UP FOR

8.30 – 9.30am

9.45 – 10.45am

11am – 12pm

We will accept registering as a group or as an individual

With limited spots available, sessions will max out quickly. Contact Coach Hourahan with any questions