'Soccer for Sandy' Event Raises $1,500 for Island Harvest

Thanks to Ed O'Donnell for this update on this terrific community event!

On Sunday, November 11, two Bayport BU16 travel teams held a fundraiser for Hurricane Sandy Relief at the Baymen Soccer Fields on Cherry Avenue in Sayville.

The fundraiser featured a soccer game between the the Bayport Rovers and the Bayport Raging Storm, as well as a bake sale, a raffle for four tickets to a production at Creative Ministries in Oakdale and a 50/50 raffle.

Each of the team members contributed $10 in order to play in the game raising $345. The bake sale brought in another $578.25 and the raffles a total of $660. The winner of the 50/50 raffle, Janine Kelly of Bay Shore, graciously donated her $330 in winnings back to the charity making the total amount raised $1,583.25. Funds will be going to Island Harvest to help with Hurricane Sandy food relief in those areas of Long Island hardest hit by the storm.

The soccer game was exciting with a five minute overtime period needed to decide the winner. The game was tied 1 -1 after regulation with the goals scored by Chris Janusz of the Raging Storm and Adam Laterza, with an assist from Liam Harrison, of the Rovers. 

About three minutes into the overtime, Kyle Wilson of the Rovers passed the ball for an assist to Liam Harrison who made the game winning goal - Rovers won 2 - 1! Volunteer referees and linesman for the game were Ian Scheff, John McAuliff and Aiden Morrell. Photos of the event were taken by Jan Hillsberg.

The coaches of the two teams, Doug Morrell, Meador Pratt and Ed O'Donnell for the Rovers and Frank Mazzie, James Jankowski and John Pizzurro for the Raging Storm, came up with the idea of having this fundraiser for Hurricane Sandy relief.

Thanks to all of the players on both the Bayport Raging Storm and the Rovers for their commitment to helping their neighbors and to all the parents of Baymen players who supported this effort on Sunday.