August 8, 2024-Congratulations to the United States Women's National Team (USWNT), which has won all five of its matches at the Paris Olympics, outscoring their opponents, 11-2. The red, white and blue will play in the gold medal match against Brazil on Saturday. One longtime USWNT player and the new head coach have Long Island connections.
Crystal Dunn grew up in Rockville Centre, Long Island and spent her formative years in the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), playing for the Rockville Centre Power, Rockville Centre Tornadoes and Albertson Fury ‘91. Crystal also developed her wonderful talent with Eastern New York’s Olympic Development Program (ODP), competing in ODP for six years, and used it as a springboard to represent the USA internationally.
“From the age of nine, Crystal displayed a tremendous desire to learn about the game. Her drive and desire to understand all the things you teach a developing youth player were incredible. Crystal’s energy and courage for her size were as impressive as her desire to learn,” commented Tim Bradbury, who coached Crystal on her two Rockville Centre youth teams and is the longtime Director of Coaching for the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA).
As a junior at the University of North Carolina, she won the Hermann Trophy as college soccer's best player, scoring five goals in leading the Tar Heels to the 2012 NCAA championship. Crystal and her USA teams won the 2012 Under-20 Women's World Cup, the 2019 Women’s World Cup plus a Bronze Medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. She has played for the Washington Spirit, North Carolina Courage and Portland Thorns in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and currently plays for Gotham FC. In the 2017-18 season, she played for Chelsea of the Women’s Super League, where her coach was Emma Hayes, who is now her coach with the USWNT and got her start as a 25-year-old coach in New York.
Emma Hayes giving a clinic at the 2002 LIJSL Convention. Photo courtesy of Kim Wyant.
Emma coached a top women's team, the Long Island Lady Riders in 2002, receiving the W-League Coach of the Year Award. She then coached the Iona College women’s team from 2003 to 2005 before embarking on a professional career in both England and the United States.
Emma told NBC News, “I was lucky to be born in England but made in the USA.“
With over 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 10 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/.