Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening, the turf at Stephen Hand’s Path in East Hampton transforms into a bustling soccer hub, where a pickup league draws dozens of players under the glow of powerful floodlights.
Night Lights Fuel a Growing Soccer Community
The initiative was launched this summer by Kevin Ruiz, a 2021 East Hampton High School graduate and former semipro player, who recruited college midfielder Michael Godinez to help coordinate the sessions and scout talent.
Participants span a wide spectrum of ability, from high‑school varsity athletes like Esteban Diaz, who uses the games to maintain stamina for his senior season, to former MLS NEXT and U.P.S.L. players seeking competitive match practice. The group’s Instagram following now exceeds 500, and its text‑chat community tops 300 members.
Recently, the organizers held tryouts for a structured men’s team aimed at players aged 17 and older, with the goal of entering local tournaments and giving the region a deeper roster of competitive talent.
The artificial lighting at Stephen Hand’s Path makes nighttime play possible, a stark contrast to earlier pickup games at the high school that were limited by daylight schedules. This has allowed the league to attract participants from Bridgehampton, Montauk, Hampton Bays and other East End towns, fostering both competition and camaraderie.
Beyond the sport, the league offers a safe, health‑focused alternative for younger players, steering them toward skill development rather than social distractions, and reinforcing the East End’s growing reputation for organized amateur soccer.