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Four CJSA Teams Advance at USYS Eastern Presidents Cup

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Connecticut Junior Soccer Association has been very well represented at the US Youth Soccer Eastern Presidents Cup, with four affiliated teams advancing past group play and into the semifinals of the regional tournament. CJSA teams that punched their tickets to the semifinal round include Soccer Club of Guilford Green (12U Boys), Darien Soccer Association Blue (12U Girls), North Haven SC Storm (14U Girls) and Stamford FC Premier (19U Girls).

Soccer Club of Guilford Green (12U Boys) advanced to the semifinals on Monday following a second-place finish in group play, securing a 2-1 record behind a 13-4 goal differential. Darien Soccer Association 2012 Girls Blue will continue their Presidents Cup run after going unbeaten in group competition, recording five points (1-0-2 record) while outscoring the opposition, 7-2. Also advancing into the semifinals is North Haven SC Storm, who will represent Connecticut in the 14U Girls Division after finishing second on their table with six points (2-1 record) and a 7-4 edge in goals. Lastly, Stamford FC Girls 05 Premier got the nod into the 19U Semifinals following a 1-1-1 finish in group play.

USYS Eastern Presidents Cup Semifinals (CJSA Teams in Bold, Times in EDT)

12U Boys – Soccer Club of Guilford B12 Green vs. Lower Merion SC Rovers Navy 2012 (PAE) at 8:00 AM

12U Girls – Darien Soccer Association 2012 Girls Blue vs. Loudoun Soccer Club G12 Black (VA) at 10:00 AM

14U Girls – North Haven SC Storm vs. CSSC Phoenix 10 (PAE) at 4:00 PM

19U Girls – Stamford FC Girls 05 Premier vs. Pittsburgh FC Eclipse (PAW) at 8:00 AM

CJSA teams that advanced to the USYS Eastern Presidents Cup but unfortunately saw their run end after group play include Wethersfield SC Navy (13U Girls) and Farmington SC Fire (15U Boys). The US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup provides a progressive, competitive environment for teams seeking a series of unique challenges highlighting competition, camaraderie and community.

To contact the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association, please call (860) 676-1161 or email office@cjsa.org. Also make sure to follow us on social media!

CJSA Hosting Connecticut Cup Finals on Saturday

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The Connecticut Junior Soccer Association (CJSA) will be holding the final round of its Connecticut Cup Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods this Saturday at Curtiss Park in Simsbury, hosted in collaboration with Simsbury Soccer Club.

The Connecticut Cup is made available to teams playing in the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association that meet residency requirements. Connecticut Cup Finals are scheduled in the 11U to 15U age groups for girls teams, and from 11U to 16U in the boys division.

“We congratulate all of the teams that have advanced and are now playing in our Connecticut Cup Finals. We wish everybody the best of luck,” said Josh Krusewski, Executive Director of the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association. “We look forward to the competitions taking place within a positive environment with respect for all those participating. We also want to send out a special thank you to the Simsbury Soccer Club, who has provided the fields and volunteers to make this event possible.”

Connecticut Cup Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods – Championship Matches

11U Boys – Farmington vs. West Hartford

11U Girls – Simsbury vs. West Hartford

12U Boys – West Hartford vs. Haddam-Killingworth

12U Girls – Trumbull vs. North Haven

13U Boys – Ridgefield vs. Greenwich

13U Girls – Naugatuck vs. Newington

14U Boys – Newington vs. Tolland

14U Girls – Norwalk Junior vs. Wethersfield

15U Boys – West Hartford vs. Windsor

15U Girls – West Hartford vs. Milford

16U Boys – Naugatuck vs. Stratford

To contact the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association, please call (860) 676-1161 or email office@cjsa.org. Also make sure to follow us on social media!

CJSA Crowns State Cup Champions

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The Connecticut Junior Soccer Association (CJSA) officially crowned its State Cup champions this past weekend at Farmington Sports Arena, closing out an incredibly competitive spring season across the state. The CJSA State Cup serves as a competition for non-residency/premier teams in Connecticut, with champions now having the opportunity to play in the US Youth Soccer (USYS) Eastern Regional Championships later this month in Charleston and Barboursville, West Virginia.

“I want to congratulate all of our State Champions,” said Josh Krusewski, Executive Director of the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association. “We look forward to watching them represent Connecticut as they progress to the East Regional Championships in West Virginia.”

CJSA State Cup Champions

12U Boys – Inter Connecticut FC 2012 Boys RL

12U Girls – CT Rush Select 2012/13 Pre-Select Girls

13U Boys – CT Rush Select 2011 Boys

13U Girls – AC Connecticut G2011 USYS National (Determined via Group Play)

14U Boys – Chelsea Piers SC Napoli

14U Girls – Ole FC Academy G2010

15U Boys – Ginga FC Boys 2009 Elite National League

15U Girls – Ole FC Yankee Academy G2009 (Determined via Group Play)

16U Boys – Chelsea Piers SC Juventus

16U Girls – Ole FC Academy G2008

17U Boys – Inter Connecticut FC 2007 Boys RL

17U Girls – AC Connecticut G2007 USYS National (Determined via Group Play)

18U/19U Boys – CT Rush Select 2006 Boys

18U/19U Girls – Ole FC Yankee Academy G2006

As mentioned, CJSA State Cup champions are now eligible for the USYS Eastern Regional Championships later this month in Charleston and Barboursville, West Virginia. Regional winners at the 13U age group and high will then move onto the USYS National Championships in July at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. The Connecticut State Cup is part of the USYS National Championships Presented by New York Life, which is the country’s most prestigious national youth soccer tournament.

With competition in the CJSA State Cup now concluded, the attention shifts to the Connecticut Cup Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, which will host its final round of play on Saturday, June 15th. Connecticut Cup is made available to teams playing in the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association that meet residency requirements.

To contact the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association, please call (860) 676-1161 or email office@cjsa.org. Also make sure to follow us on social media!

CJSA Hosting State Cup Finals This Weekend

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The Connecticut Junior Soccer Association (CJSA) will be hosting its State Cup Finals on Sunday, with matches taking place at Farmington Sports Arena. In addition to the finals being played this weekend, select spring champions are also being determined via group play this season in the 13U, 15U, 17U and 18U/19U Girls Divisions.

As CJSA State Cup Finals are being played this weekend, the Connecticut Cup Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods also progresses towards its final competitions for the season on Saturday, June 15th. The State Cup serves as a non-residency competition for premier teams, while the Connecticut Cup is a tournament created for teams that meet residency requirements.

“We are looking forward to crowning champions across both of our state-level competitions,” said Josh Krusewski, Executive Director of the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association. “By the end of this weekend, we will know who will represent Connecticut at the East Region Championships in West Virginia.”

CJSA State Cup Championship Matches

12U Boys – CT Rush vs. Inter Connecticut FC

12U Girls – CT Rush vs. Ole FC

13U Boys – CT Rush vs. Ginga FC

14U Boys – Chelsea Piers SC vs. CT Rush

14U Girls – Ole FC vs. Vale SC

15U Boys – Ginga FC Southeast vs. Soccer Club

16U Boys – Chelsea Piers SC vs. CT Rush

16U Girls – Chelsea Piers SC vs. Ole FC

17U Boys – CT Rush vs. Inter Connecticut FC

18U/19U Boys – CT Rush vs. JA Elite Soccer Academy

CJSA State Cup Champions (Determined via Group Play)

13U Girls – AC Connecticut G2011 USYS National

15U Girls – To Be Determined

17U Girls – AC Connecticut G2007 USYS National

18U/19U Girls – Ole FC Yankee Academy G2006

State Cup champions at the 12U level and above are eligible for the US Youth Soccer (USYS) Eastern Regional Championships this June in Charleston and Barboursville, West Virginia. Regional winners at the 13U age group and higher then move onto the USYS National Championships in July at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. The Connecticut State Cup is part of the USYS National Championships Presented by New York Life, which is the country’s most prestigious national youth soccer tournament.

After the CJSA State Cup Finals are played this week, Connecticut Cup Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods will soon host its final round of competition on Saturday, June 15th. Connecticut Cup is made available to teams playing in the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association that meet residency requirements.

To contact the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association, please call (860) 676-1161 or email office@cjsa.org. Also make sure to follow us on social media!

CJSA Hosts TOPSoccer Festival in Wallingford

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The Connecticut Junior Soccer Association (CJSA) hosted a TOPSoccer Festival this past weekend, where approximately 100 athletes, family members and volunteers enjoyed a fun afternoon full of games, activities and entertainment. Sponsored by DICK’S Sporting Goods, the CJSA TOPSoccer Festival took place at Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park in Wallingford.

“Our inaugural CJSA TOPSoccer Festival was a tremendous success. Thank you to all of our sponsors and partners,” said Josh Krusewski, Executive Director of the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association. “We also want to send out a special thank you to the South Central District and Wallingford Soccer Club for their hands-on involvement in carrying out the event for these amazing athletes.”

TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) is a recreational sports program for children with intellectual, emotional and physical disabilities. Developed by US Youth Soccer, TOPSoccer provides an opportunity for those with diverse abilities to play the game in a structured environment that is safe, fun, supportive and inclusive.

The CJSA TOPSoccer Festival included small-sided games, skills sessions and contests. Each attendee enjoyed a complimentary meal from Los Mariachis and ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s, also receiving a free t-shirt and soccer ball to commemorate the event. In addition to the tremendous volunteer work by the South Central District and Wallingford Soccer Club, partners for the CJSA TOPSoccer Festival included Hartford Athletic of the USL Championship professional league, Hartford HealthCare, Skyhawks Sports Academy and Wallingford Parks & Recreation. Also making an appearance at the festival was representation from the Southern Connecticut State University Women’s Soccer Program.

The Connecticut Junior State Association is currently seeking new partners to help grow TOPSoccer around the state and make the game more readily available to young athletes of all abilities. Any CJSA clubs that are interested in learning more about adding TOPSoccer to their club offerings can contact topssoccer@cjsa.org or send an email directly to CJSA TOPSoccer Chairperson Bill Fallon at coachbill01@comcast.net. The program would be fully supported by US Youth Soccer and the Connecticut Junior State Association.

To contact the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association, please call (860) 676-1161 or email office@cjsa.org. Also make sure to follow us on social media!

CJSA Hosting A Free TOPSoccer Festival in Wallingford

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The Connecticut Junior Soccer Association (CJSA) is hosting a TOPSoccer Festival this Saturday to kick off the summer, and the event will be free of charge for all participants. Sponsored by DICK’S Sporting Goods, the CJSA TOPSoccer Festival will take place from 1 PM to 3 PM at Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park in Wallingford on Saturday.

Interested in attending? REGISTER HERE

TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) is a recreational sports program for children with intellectual, emotional and physical disabilities. Developed by US Youth Soccer, TOPSoccer provides an opportunity for those with diverse abilities to play the game in a structured environment that is safe, fun, supportive and inclusive.

“TOPSoccer is designed to bring the opportunity of learning and playing soccer to any boy or girl with a disability,” said Josh Krusewski, Executive Director of the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association. “The goal of TOPSoccer is to enable these young athletes to develop their physical fitness, technical skills, courage and self-esteem through the joy and excitement of playing soccer.”

The CJSA TOPSoccer Festival on Saturday will include small-sided games, skills sessions and contests. Additionally, the celebration will feature food trucks, ice cream and giveaways for attendees. Partners for the event include Hartford Athletic of the USL Championship professional league, Hartford HealthCare, Skyhawks Sports Academy and Wallingford Parks & Recreation. Also making an appearance at the festival will be representation from the Southern Connecticut State University Women’s Soccer Program.

If your business is interested in getting involved with this event, sponsor and partner opportunities are still currently available for the CJSA TOPSoccer Festival. Please contact executivedirector@cjsa.org to hear more about how your business can support this fun celebration.

All existing CJSA TOPSoccer Programs and their members are invited to participate in this free event. Any parents or players who are interested in learning more about TOPSoccer or would like to take part in the festival are also invited at no cost. Further, any CJSA clubs that are considering the addition of TOPSoccer to their offerings are encouraged to attend the festival and find out how they can start a program that would be supported by US Youth Soccer and the Connecticut Junior State Association. To learn more information in advance, please contact topssoccer@cjsa.org or send an email directly to CJSA TOPSoccer Chairperson Bill Fallon at coachbill01@comcast.net.

To contact the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association, please call (860) 676-1161 or email office@cjsa.org. Also make sure to follow us on social media!

Deadline Approaching for CJSA Scholarship Opportunities

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The Connecticut Junior Soccer Association (CJSA) Board of Directors currently has a scholarship fund open for graduating high school seniors. However, the deadline for submissions is quickly approaching, and the application process will officially close on Tuesday, April 30th.

“We are proud to continue our support helping families subsidize the cost of college education through this scholarship program,” said Josh Krusewski, Executive Director of the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association. “These scholarships are available to member players, and we encourage college-bound seniors within the CJSA system to submit an application.”

To be eligible for the scholarship fund, applicants must have played with a CJSA affiliated club and maintained a C+ average or higher in high school. Only graduating seniors qualify for a scholarship, and they must have plans to attend a two or four-year college or accredited technical school this fall. Additionally, all applications must be completed with an accompanying 250-word essay on the topic of “What Soccer Means to Me.”

The Connecticut Junior Soccer Association encourages any interested seniors who meet the above criteria to apply for the scholarship fund. No applications will be accepted after Tuesday, April 30th. Apply Today.

To contact the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association, please call (860) 676-1161 or email office@cjsa.org. Also make sure to follow us on social media!

CJSA Hosting A Free TOPSoccer Festival This May

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The Connecticut Junior Soccer Association (CJSA) will be hosting a TOPSoccer Festival this May to kick off the summer, which will be free of charge for all participants. Sponsored by DICK’S Sporting Goods, the CJSA TOPSoccer Festival will take place from 1 PM to 3 PM at Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park in Wallingford on Saturday, May 18th.

Interested in attending? REGISTER HERE

TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) is a recreational sports program for children with intellectual, emotional and physical disabilities. Developed by US Youth Soccer, TOPSoccer provides an opportunity for those with diverse abilities to play the game in a structured environment that is safe, fun, supportive and inclusive.

“TOPSoccer is designed to bring the opportunity of learning and playing soccer to any boy or girl with a disability,” said Josh Krusewski, Executive Director of the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association. “The goal of TOPSoccer is to enable these young athletes to develop their physical fitness, technical skills, courage and self-esteem through the joy and excitement of playing soccer.”

The CJSA TOPSoccer Festival will include small-sided games, skills sessions and contests. The celebration will also feature food trucks, ice cream and giveaways for attendees. Also making an appearance at the festival will be representation from Hartford Athletic of the USL Championship professional league and the Southern Connecticut State University Women’s Soccer Program. Additional partners for the event include Hartford HealthCare, Skyhawks Sports Academy and Wallingford Parks & Recreation.

If your business is interested in getting involved with this event, sponsor and partner opportunities are currently available for the CJSA TOPSoccer Festival. Please contact executivedirector@cjsa.org to hear more about how your business can support this fun celebration.

All existing CJSA TOPSoccer Programs and their members are invited to participate in this free event. Any parents or players who are interested in learning more about TOPSoccer or would like to take part in the festival are also invited at no cost. Further, any CJSA clubs that are considering the addition of TOPSoccer to their offerings are encouraged to attend the festival and find out how they can start a program that would be supported by US Youth Soccer and the Connecticut Junior State Association. To learn more information in advance, please contact topssoccer@cjsa.org or send an email directly to CJSA TOPSoccer Chairperson Bill Fallon at coachbill01@comcast.net.

To contact the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association, please call (860) 676-1161 or email office@cjsa.org. Also make sure to follow us on social media!

CJSA Hosts Busy Weekend with the Connecticut Soccer Community

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The Connecticut Junior Soccer Association (CJSA) hosted a series of successful events with the Connecticut soccer community over the weekend. CJSA kicked things off with its 2024 Annual President’s Awards Dinner on Friday night before holding a Club Leadership Symposium and the CJSA Annual General Meeting on Saturday. The final event took place on Saturday evening when the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame inducted its 2024 class with an enshrinement ceremony at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Bristol, which served as the host venue for the busy weekend.

“Congratulations to all of our award winners, and thank you to all of our sponsors, partners, presenters and volunteers who allowed us to have a very successful weekend,” said Josh Krusewski, Executive Director of the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association. “We believe everyone who attended our Leadership Symposium left with something meaningful to bring back to their club.”

Each year, the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association hosts its Annual President’s Awards Dinner, where players, teams, coaches, referees and volunteers are recognized for outstanding performances and contributions to youth soccer in the state. Below is the full list of award winners who were honored on Friday night.

  • Administrator of the Year – Sandy Siedel
  • Volunteer of the Year – Jamie Milikowski
  • Girls Recreation Coach of the Year – Mark Bacon
  • Boys Recreation Coach of the Year – Carlos Dias
  • Tommy Leahy TOPSoccer® Buddy of the Year – Aubrey Jackson
  • TOPSoccer® Coach of the Year – Ryan McAdoo
  • TOPSoccer® Volunteer of the Year – Justin Kelleher
  • Boys Competitive Coach of the Year – Orville Dunn
  • Girls Competitive Coach of the Year – Diego Miranda
  • Young Male Referee of the Year – Kelvin Mucka
  • Young Female Referee of the Year – Katrina Boskovic
  • Mark Wollman Referee of the Year – Daniel Aloi
  • Prime Hydration ODP Female Player of the Year – Maddy Walsh
  • Prime Hydration ODP Male Player of the Year – Jeremy Dovale
  • Thomas Krusewski Young Coach of the Year – Mia Prazeres
  • Special Recognition – Naugatuck Nitros
  • Special Recognition – Jordan Francis
  • Special Recognition – North Haven Soccer Club

Following the 2024 Annual President’s Awards Dinner, CJSA hosted a Club Leadership Symposium on Saturday morning that included a variety of educational workshops for club administrators. Upon completion of the Club Leadership Symposium, CJSA held its 2024 Annual General Meeting with the CJSA Board of Directors and club leadership to discuss relevant topics for the state association during the upcoming year.

The grand finale of the weekend came on Saturday night when the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame inducted its 2024 class at an official enshrinement ceremony. The seven new members who entered the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame are Chris Canetti, Annmarie DelMastro Catania, Thomas D’Agostino, Jerry Garlick, Stephen Griggs, Allen Nunes and Gary Swanson. Read more about the seven inductees.

To contact the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association, please call (860) 676-1161 or email office@cjsa.org. Also make sure to follow us on social media!