The Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame will hold its Annual Gala on Saturday, March 22, 2025 at the Huntington Hilton in Melville, NY.
Founder of the Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame, Kevin L. McCrudden says, “The Player Hall of Fame was created specifically to honor the best and most successful soccer players from Long Island or with extensive Long Island roots. We have such a rich history of soccer on Long Island because of our proximity to New York City, which is the cultural and soccer “melting pot” of America. Because people from all around the world brought soccer with them to America, it has enriched the soccer culture on here on Long Island.”
This year’s class of 2025 are:
Lloyd Monsen - Monsen spent eleven seasons in the American Soccer League as well as several years in the lower division German American Soccer League and National Soccer League of New York. He earned three CAPS with the U.S. Men’s National Team between 1952 and 1957 and was a member of the U.S. Olympic soccer teams at both the 1952 and 1956 Summer Olympics, and he is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Edner Breton - Breton is a Hatian National Team player that spent 13 years in the North American Soccer League (NASL) and the American Soccer League (ASL). Starring on the New York Apollo and New York United for 7 years winning ASL titles in 1975 and 1978.
Manny Matos - Manny Matos helped Adelphi University win the 1974 NCAA Division II championship, and then was selected by the Seattle Sounders in the 1975 NASL Draft, ultimately making 28 appearances in 4 seasons with Seattle (1975-78) and helping the team reach Soccer Bowl '77.
Keith Van Eron - a standout goalkeeper at Walt Whitman High School and walk-on starter at Hartwick in 1976. Van Eron overcame the adversity of being shot his Senior year of High School to become a well-known success story in soccer circles. He played in the American Soccer League (ASL) and North American Soccer League (NASL), before playing eleven seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), winning the 1984 MISL Championship with the Baltimore Blast and was the 1986 MISL Goalkeeper of the Year.
On his induction into the Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame (LISPHOF), Van Eron said, “Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is a dream come true! Going into my senior year at Walt Whitman and getting shot with a gun that summer, no one ever thought I would amount to anything. This is an absolute dream come true.”
Michelle O’Brien - was a standout youth player at the Northport / Cow Harbor Soccer Club and St. Anthony’s High School. She attended Florida International University, where she remains the program's all–time record goal scorer. O'Brien started playing for the legendary Long Island Lady Riders, where she remained until 2007 with a spell at Arsenal in 2003 in the Women's Premier League and the semi–final of the UEFA Women's Cup. She also played for the W-League club Chicago Red Eleven and has made over 50 appearances for the Republic of Ireland Women's National Team.
and Paul LeSueur Ambassador of the Game Award to Addie Mattei-Iaia – The Paul LeSueur Ambassador of the Game Award is named after the late Paul LeSueur of Garden City. LeSueur was a former NY Cosmos Player and a member of the First Class of the Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame in 2013 along with teammate, Shep Messing, Kim Wyant and Chris Armas. LeSueur was also the first Executive Director of the Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame. He is well -known and well regarded in the Long Island soccer community.
Addie Mattei-Iaia is the former President of the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), the largest youth soccer league in America at the time, from 2004 until 2015 following the term of legendary US Soccer Hall of Fame Member, Peter Collins. She also served on the LIJSL Board of Directors for approximately 35 years and was Chairman of the LIJSL Annual Convention for 25 consecutive years.
Current LIJSL President, Andrew Seabury said, “There have been few people who have had such an impact on the Long Island soccer environment as Addie. You can be recognized for how you played the game, but equally we should recognize how we provide the environment for players to reach the heights of the beautiful game. Addie, as President for LIJSL, and for her contributions at the State and National level should rightfully be recognized for her contributions and impact on shaping Long Island to be the soccer powerhouse it is today.”
Mattei-Iaia is a member of the Board of Directors of Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association. In 1996 she was inducted into LIJSL HALL OF FAME; in 2000 inducted into the ENYYSA HALL OF FAME; and in 2007 US YOUTH SOCCER REGION ONE - Administrator of the year Award. In 2015, she was honored at RED BULL ARENA for her service to youth soccer and was instrumental in partnering with the Red Bull Academy Training Program. Officially launching the Regional Development School on Long Island, which has developed several professional players from Long Island.
“I cannot put into words how I feel, to still be remembered at this time in my life is overwhelming. I want you to know that being remembered and considered for this Achievement Award by the people I have the greatest admiration and respect for is overwhelming,” said Mattei-Iaia.
“I have always felt that being a volunteer for most of my life gave me so much more than I ever gave. It's the lifelong friends and colleagues that made my life so fulfilling. God has been good to me; I have a wonderful family and so many soccer friends who are all giving and wonderful people. I live by the words, "it's not the years in your life, but the life in your years," she concluded.
This year’s Hall of Fame Gala is happening a little later in the year. It will be held Saturday, March 22nd at the Huntington Hilton on Route 110 in Melville. All information can be found on the website at www.LongIslandSoccerPlayerHallofFame.org or the Facebook Page at Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame.
“This year’s class is unique in many ways. We have a group of “journeymen” that played in the NASL and ASL that are household names for most of the soccer community on Long Island. It is so wonderful to honor these men that were at the ground floor of growth of soccer in America, starting with Lloyd Monsen,” said McCrudden.
He continued, “Then we have a young woman that is one of the few and first to travel in Europe playing soccer, and in fact made us change the language for our “Qualifications.” They read that a player that has obtained a “full CAP” for the US Men’s National Team or US Women’s National Team, automatically qualify for the LISPHOF. (a “CAP” is when a player has an appearance for the full, senior national team.) We didn’t consider someone would have “CAPS” for another country! Michelle has over 50 for the Irish Women’s National Team!
And finally, what can I say about Addie. She is a dear friend and a pillar in the Long Island and New York soccer community. Her ongoing presence is a testament to her commitment and dedication to the Long Island soccer community. She had the unenviable position of taking over the LIJSL after the legendary, Peter Collins. And she didn’t miss a beat! She is a tenacious leader that has done so much for the good of Long Island soccer and literally for thousands of children and families. It is really our honor to honor a woman like Addie Mattei-Iaia.” McCrudden concluded.