The Long Island United 96 Academy-Anfield boys, the academy team of the LIJSL, captured the Columbus Cup for the second straight year last weekend. The annual premier tournament is sponsored by the Brooklyn Italians soccer club and attracts major teams from the tri-state area. The United, ranked 22nd nationally, and 6th in Region 1, play in LIJSL U13 Division I. The team is a select team comprised of elite players from Nassau and Suffolk counties. Two of the players, Garden City residents, Matthew Rogers and Ray Leto figured prominently in the tournament victory with Rogers scoring a hat trick against the Brooklyn Patriots and two goals against the Quickstrike FC 97's. Goalkeeper Ray Leto enjoyed a shutout streak of eight straight tournament games dating back to the 2007 tournament before finally allowing a goal in the team's semi-final win against Manhattan Barcelona. However, Leto began a new shutout streak as the team finished off Clarkstown FC 97 by the score of 5-0 in the Cup final. Congratulations to the boys and their teammates on successfully defending their crown.