Eastern Premier Soccer League (EPSL) - Metropolitan Conference

We have a winner! The first EPSL Metropolitan Conference Champions is Lansdowne Yonkers FC, winning on goal differential over NY Pancyprian Freedoms. After losing 2-0 to Doxa SC on November 15th, the Bhoys went seven wins and two draws in their last nine games. And things did come right down to the last game – a game between Lansdowne and NY Pancyprian on May 16th that ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw after NY Pancyprian had a two-goal lead.

So…what does this mean? Well, Lansdowne Yonkers is playing the NISA Independent Cup this summer based on finishing at the top of the division. Promotion into NISA Nation? To be determined, I guess.

At the other end is NY Athletic Club, finishing dead last with eight points (and one game left to play). What does that mean? According to the league rules, NY Athletic Club will be relegated back to the Cosmopolitan Soccer League. Who comes up to replace them? To be determined, I guess.

Cosmopolitan Soccer League

NY Shamrock and Manhattan Celtic, separated by one point, have one game left to play on June 6th to determine who will finish at the top of Division 1. Celtic play Manhattan Kickers, while Shamrock play NY Greek Americans II – both games at 8PM on Randall’s Island. For the division winner, a chance to get promoted to the EPSL (again, to be determined).

Borgetto FC, with one game left to play, is in control at the top of Division 2. Meanwhile, Division 3 and Division 4 are in their playoff games. New York International FC leads the group of semifinalists in Division 3, which includes Lansdowne Bhoys Metros, NY Greek Americans Over-30, and CD Iberia. Semifinal games will take place on June 6th. Also on June 6th will be the finals of Division 4 with Guyana Veterans and New York Croatia playing their way into the finals by beating higher seeds. The championship game will also be played on June 6th.

John Kilby League Cup

June 13th in the day that the Kilby Cup will be decided, and it will be Manhattan Celtic taking on Division 2 leaders Borgetto FC. Celtic got by Hoboken FC 1912 in the semis by a score of 3-2, while Borgetto defeated NY Shamrock SC 2-0. Borgetto has only one loss in league and cup play combined for all of 2021.

Long Island Soccer Football League (LISFL)

So a funny thing happened on the way to Port Jefferson being crowned champs of the Premier Division of the LISFL. A little thing called playoffs. Despite finishing the regular season undefeated with 12 wins and two draws and having a goal differential of +39, Port Jeff still had to face the winner of the semi-final match between 2nd place NY Irish Rovers and 3rd place Leros. Rovers defeated Leros 1-0 on May 9th setting up the final match-up with Port Jeff.

And you probably see where this is going.

On May 16th, NY Irish Rovers beat Port Jefferson by the score of 3-1 to win the Premier Division. Never a good plan to have your worst game of the year happen in a league final. But it’s also a shame that Port Jefferson gets essentially nothing out of such a great season. And so, while we say congrats to NY Irish Rovers for winning the final, we also say congrats to Port Jefferson for being such a dominant force during the season.

NYPD FC in Division 1 and Ronkonkoma Fusion in Division 3 did not succumb to such as fate, both finishing top of their respective tables and also winning their playoff finals. As for SS Cosma Damiano in Division 2 – well, they took a 4-1 beating at the hands of 3rd place Asteras NY giving Asteras the championship.

Garden State Soccer League (GSSL)

It’s down to two clubs at the top of the Super Division: FC Motown and Clifton Elite FC 2. With just a handful of games (and a couple of make-up ones, perhaps) left, FC Motown has only a two-point lead in the league standings over Clifton Elite FC 2. Both teams have games around this Memorial Day weekend, with Clifton Elite 2 playing Ukrainian Sitch SC while FC Motown face Sport Club Portug.

Not as much for Parsippany Football Club to worry about right now as they sit seven points clear of Englewood Red Devils in A North Division. In A Central Division is a three-team race between Jersey Shore Boca Juniors, Jackson Lions FC Reserves and FC Dynamo, with just five points separating the three teams. Sierra Stars SC and Rahway FC are tied at the top B North Division with identical records and almost-identical goal differentials. And it’s Giresun Spor USA and Jersey Devils FC all tied up in B Central Division.

New Jersey Open State Cup

The date is yet to be determined, but we now know who will be in the final. FC Motown will be taking on SEFT FC out of the EPSL for the championship. Both clubs had to get through some tough competition. SEFT FC had to play Jackson Lions in the quarterfinals, then Hoboken FC 1912 in the semis – but took care of business in both cases. FC Motown’s big challenge came in the form of Clifton Elite FC (EPSL) in the quarters, and it came down to penalties after playing to a 1-1 draw. FC Motown prevailed 5-4 in penalties, then beat Parsippany FC 3-0 in the semi-finals.

CASA

Icarus FC and FC SouthHouse have a date to essentially settle it all in the Primera Division on June 5th. As of right now, Icarus has a four-point lead over SouthHouse. A win by Icarus would give them the title, and a draw would just about cement things. But if SouthHouse can come away with a win, then they can still overtake Icarus with a win over FC Misconduct on June 6th (yes, the very next day). And don’t count out FC Misconduct just yet. If they beat Vidas United on June 5th, then beat SouthHouse, they still have one more game left to make up against Philadelphia Legenda FC and could take it all themselves should they win (and Icarus does not get a win in their last game).

- John Howard-Fusco