CSI in the News - CSI Today

Liantonio went on to play two years of Division 1 soccer at nationally ranked St. Francis College of Brooklynbefore transferring to the College of Staten Island. At CSI, he earned top honors in both the CUNY andSkyline conferences. He scored 29 goals his senior year to lead both conferences in scoring, a record whichstill stands today. He also played five seasons of semi-pro soccer for Calabria Roma in the Brooklyn-QueensItalian Super League.In 1991, Liantonio began his coaching career at Silver Lake Soccer and spent 11 years as the trainer for theSI United program before becoming the head coach at St. Peter’s in 1997.He has been coaching at St. Peter’s ever since, 12 as the varsity coach, posting a 120-48-12 record, whichincludes four CHSAA Island championships and three SIHSL championships, two B Division citychampionships and four trips to the A division final four.He is also the director of training for the St. Joseph Hill Soccer Club and a trainer for Tab Ramos andBreakaway Training Schools.JOHN ZAYERZayer’s involvement began in 1983 when he signed up his son, Christopher, and was talked into coaching atOur Lady Queen of Peace by Hall of Famer (Class of ‘09) Eddie Gamarra.A year later, with Eddie’s “help,” Zayer was nominated and elected vice president of the league and thenenrolled in coaching and referee license courses.It was refereeing that ignited Zayer’s passion and, by 1992, he had become a state ref and assignor. A yearlater he became an associate assessor and assistant instructor, and by 1995, he was assessing refsthroughout the state.In 2001, Zayer was elevated to a Grade 5 instructor and named the lead instructor for Eastern New YorkState Soccer Association. In 2004, he was named a Grade 15 state emeritus ref and, in 2006, was namedthe state assessor for ENY. By 2008, the Dongan Hills resident became one of only three state assessors toappear on the United States Soccer Federation Professional List.Zayer led the first United States Soccer Federation (USSF) bilingual referee instructor course and hecontinues to work for the USSF on ref development and instructor development for the Eastern US andCalifornia. He also regularly participates with ref development as part of the Olympic Development Program.Throughout his career, he has officiated 1,340 games.Page 153 of 157