Playing in the LI Cup Tournament is a unique experience. Making your way to the finals is always memorable. But winning,
that takes a special mentality and a strong focus over a long period of time.
While walking around the fields this weekend, we spoke to several coaches who have had the experience of winning the LI Cup to ask them what it takes to reach the top.
“The key to winning this type of tournament is keeping the boys focused throughout the season,” said Bill Marrero, coach of the Boys U15 Smithtown Bulls, who won their second consecutive LI Cup title and played in their third straight Cup final on Saturday. “Keeping them up for that extra game on the weekend was the biggest key I found. We always reiterate in practice it’s a win or go home type game. You need to show up and play hard, otherwise, you’re out.”
That’s a sentiment the players grasp early on. According to Katherine Cioffi, a player on the Girls U16 Lake Grove Power, it’s that mentality that makes these games so challenging, and so fun.
“We like the win and move on mentality of these games,” she said. “We seem to get the harder teams first, but that just shows that the competition is tough no matter what round of the cup you are playing in. All the teams are good and the best team moves on.
“The games in this tournament are really tough,” she added. “There are no easy games and you have to come to win. One bad day and you could be out of the tournament. But that’s what makes the games exciting.”
As is the nature of the game of soccer itself, the key to winning also lies in the team’s ability to stick together over the long haul. The team that plays together is better able to weather the ups and downs that inevitably come over the course of the tournament.
“Most importantly, it takes teamwork to win a tournament like this,” says LIJSL Board member and Tournament Girls Chairman, Anthony Maresco, who coaches for Terryville and has had teams win this tournament. “Everyone has to work hard, come together as a team, and show a lot of resilience. You have to understand that even though the first half may not have gone your way, you have to keep playing because anything can happen. Resilience is key – from half to half, from round to round. Work together, work hard, and good things will happen.
Maresco also knows that the end result is also worth all the work it takes for the players to get there.
“My favorite memory is many, many years ago when my son played in this tournament and won it twice in the major division,” he said. “So I know what a battle it is to get here, to get to this level, and to get to the championship weekend. But again, my favorite part is seeing the smile on the kids’ faces when they walk out of here with a patch, a t-shirt, and a medal, knowing that they’ve accomplished something very special.”