Matt Rogers of Garden City was selected by the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) to represent Long Island in the U11 level during the Long Island (LI) United program's 2008-2009 season.

The LI United program was developed by the 100 member clubs of the LIJSL to provide an elite level academy training environment for Long Island's top youth soccer players. The program is now in its third year and hosts teams at the U10, U11 and U12 level.

Players are trained and mentored by Long Island's top college coaches including Sue Ryan of Stony Brook University; Richard Nuttall, Brian Suskewicz and Lindsay Vanderspiegel of Hofstra University and Jess Clinton, Marc Reeves and Jeff Mateo of St. John's University in a high level, college-like training environment which is unique to youth soccer in the USA. The program is also linked with the internationally famous Liverpool soccer club in England. Players have the opportunity to train with Liverpool coaching staff and visit Liverpool's own world-renowned academy.

LIJSL is a non-profit, educational organization operated by volunteers and serves as an umbrella organization, providing a coaching academy, clinics, tournaments, special competitions, scholarships and special programs for players of all abilities. One of the largest youth soccer leagues in the United States, LIJSL has 100 community-based member clubs representing approximately 70,000 players on Long Island and in Queens.

For more information, visit www.lijsoccer.com.