More to come soon!
Meet Our CYSC Trainers
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Alessandra CacciottiAllie Cacciotti played soccer from the age of three. At age nine she became a goalkeeper and went on to play for numerous school, club, travel and premiere teams before joining the Olympic Development Team and the Empire State Games. She played Division 1 soccer at Fordham University as a goalkeeper and upon graduation, joined the coaching staff for Bedford Youth Soccer and Chappaqua AYSO on the weekends. Allie joined CYSC in 2017 as a coach for the GU14 Panthers and has trained U9 boys and girls. She additionally trains CYSC's goalkeepers, having also trained the Quickstrike goalkeepers over the past few years.
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Brian WalshBrian Walsh has worked within CYSC for more than 15 years and is currently the Director of Youth Programs at New York City Football Club (NYCFC). In his role at NYCFC, Brian oversees a department of 50+ coaches and youth soccer programming throughout the region. Prior to joining NYCFC, Brian spent a number of years working in collegiate soccer on the men’s teams of Mercy College & St. John’s University. Brian has also worked at the New York Red Bulls and the New York Cosmos. While at the New York Cosmos, Brian was tasked with building the Youth Training & Development Program, Academy and “B” team (Reserve Team). In 2015, Brian was part of the staff of the New York Cosmos “B” that lifted the National Championship.
An Academic All-Conference honoree, Brian was a four-year starter for the Mercy College men's soccer team and helped the squad win the 2004 East Coast Conference tournament title. Brian graduated from Mercy in 2006 with a degree in International Business and earned his MBA from his alma mater in 2009. A native of Dublin, Ireland, Brian has an USC Premier Diploma and Football Association of Ireland (FAI) coaching certificates. He is also pursuing his coaching licenses with the United States Soccer Federation. |
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Diego EscandellDiego has played soccer since he was 5 years old, serving all youth categories in his native Uruguay. Once in University, he began his studies related to the sciences of movement, graduating with a degree in Physical Education and then a postgraduate degree in Motor Pedagogy. From there, Diego continued to study and research the improvement of well-being and human performance. From 2000 to 2004, Diego was hired by the Uruguayan government to advise the Olympic team for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. He has participated in numerous training and evaluation projects for individual soccer players as well as professional teams.
In 2016, Diego came to the States, where he coached the Boys' Varsity team at Putnam Valley High School. In his second year of coaching there, the team entered the second round of playoffs for the first time in over 10 years. In that same year, he also began working at a youth soccer academy in Putnam Valley, serving as the Coach of two teams and the Director of physical development to further complement and improve players' soccer skills. In his time off the field, Diego directs an online neurosciences and wellness project, a proposal to help people reach their maximum potential. |
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Eduardo Porcel |
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Jenna DallingaJenna Dallinga started playing soccer at 7 years old in Brewster, NY. Teaching and mentoring soccer has been her passion. Jenna has coached youth soccer for 20 years, 13 of them with CYSC boys' and girls' teams in every age group. Jenna holds a USSF national C coaching license. Jenna strongly believes that being a soccer coach is not just about teaching the technical, tactical and physical part of the game but also about emphasizing the mental/psychological aspect of youth sports. Her coaching vision is to teach youth how to think on their own, act with sportsmanship, become leaders on and off the field, and to use these tools in life. Off the field, Jenna runs a spa in Danbury, CT as a personal trainer and massage therapist, and sees clients for injuries and injury prevention.
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Mick HennessyMichael (Mick) Hennessy has enjoyed coaching for CYSC for more than 15 years. A native of Dublin, Ireland, Mick immigrated to the United States to attend college on a soccer scholarship. During his four years at Mercy College, Mick was distinguished in his playing career being nominated to the ECAC All Conference and New York State first team selections. He was recognized as the ECAC MVP in his junior year. After college, Mick played for the Queens-based New York Shamrocks and later with the USL Westchester Flames.
Mick earned a Bachelor's degree in Psychology at Mercy College and a Master Degree from Long Island University in Counseling and Human Development. He has worked for the past twenty years as a middle school counselor. After earning his coaching credentials from the FIFA sanctioned Football Association of Ireland (FAI) Mick developed a philosophy of soccer coaching that views team sports as an opportunity for personal growth and exploration. The game in his view is a metaphor for life. The lessons we learn playing soccer will shape the relationships we have with people around us. Mick is still waiting to meet the person who said they regret playing the beautiful game. |
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Rob WardRob Ward came to the USA from Dublin Ireland in 2003 on a soccer scholarship to play at Mercy College. While at Mercy, he obtained his BS in marketing and an MBA while carving out a successful 4 year soccer career. The highlight came in 2005 when Mercy won their regional conference and just missed out on a national tournament bid. Rob joined CYSC in 2004 and has gone on to have a tremendously successful 15 year coaching career, winning 11 WYSL/Premier divisions and 7 cups across all levels with both girls and boys programs.
Rob is a big advocate of studying the game and has always brought creative ways to engage his teams. His coaching philosophy focuses on building strong fundamentals, then developing dynamic free flowing soccer with an overarching eye on the player experience. |
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Sal OlivetoSal Oliveto has been a trainer with CYSC for the past 10 years. At Pelham Memorial HS, Sal captured All State and All American honors in 1988, as well as having the distinction of being Section 1's leading goal scorer. As a striker for Concordia College, Sal averaged 10 goals per season in 1989 and 1990. After college, Sal returned to his high school soccer roots, coaching the Byram Hills Boys' and Girls' Varsity teams from 1993-2000, where he coached the teams to multiple league and section championships and was awarded Coach of the Year three times. His boys' team reached the State Final Four in 2000. Sal additionally served as the Varsity Girls' Assistant Coach and Head JV Coach for Bronxville High School Soccer in 2001, helping the girls win both the league and section championship that year. He coached the Westlake High School Varsity and JV Boys' Soccer teams from 2002-2006, leading the JV team to an undefeated record in 2002 and a near-perfect record in 2003, leading the varsity team to the league championship in 2005 and 2006, and receiving the Coach of the Year award in 2005. Sal additionally served as the Varsity Girls' Head Coach and Mentor at Valhalla High School. Sal holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and a Masters in Special Education, and has taught Physical Education for 27 years.
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Shawn PodellShawn Podell has been a CYSC trainer for over 10 years, coaching teams from U9 through U14, and celebrating divisional wins over 15 times. Among other accomplishments, Shawn coached the GU13 Thunder to the Final 8 in the NYS Cup (2018) and the GU13 Comets to 1st Place in the Hershey Memorial Day Challenge (2019). Shawn holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Wellness and Exercise Science from Western Connecticut State University and a Masters in Physical Education from Manhattanville College. He is NYS certified in Physical Education (K-12), is a personal trainer, and serves as the CEO of Ultimate Training Soccer. A long time soccer player, Shawn played for Westfield State College. He has also been a volunteer coach for an adaptive intramural program at Mahopac High School and at the Special Olympics in Brewster.
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