South Side starting to hit stride

A grueling non-league schedule has started to pay dividends for South Side’s boys’ lacrosse team. The Cyclones upped their winning streak to four games by blowing out Roslyn, 15-2, on the road April 27 in a showdown of Conference B-II unbeatens.

“We’ve shown some resiliency and balance,” coach Steve DiPietro said. “The really difficult games early in the year, we chalked those up as lessons learned. Looking back, we had good wins against Baldwin and Carey. We just want to continue to play well and stay healthy.”

Ryan Langdon and Andrew Livingstone each had three goals and two assists to lead the South Side (4-0 in B-II, 6-4 overall) attack against Roslyn, which entered the game with a 4-0 conference mark. Senior Mike Leake added five points. “Roslyn has played us tough in the past with its zone defense,” DiPietro said. “We were coming off the best game we put together all year against Bethpage and I was eager to see how we were going to follow up. 

“We brought a high level of energy again, and it needs to continue,” he added. “Every game is going to be like a playoff game starting next week.”

On April 20, the Cyclones renewed a rivalry with Bethpage that dates back to their 2004 state championship-winning team. South Side beat the Golden Eagles for the Nassau County title that year. “We lost in overtime at their place last season and they had beaten us the year before also,” DiPietro said. “Our guys were really fired up and we pretty much dominated.”

Five players — Langdon, Joe Hill, Joe LiCalzi, Dan Mally and Jonny Pickett — scored twice to lead an 11-7 home victory. Junior face-off specialist Tim Leake won 13 of 16, and senior goaltender Chris Aranalde had 10 stops. “We were seeded third and fourth in the conference at the coaches’ meeting and it was definitely a big game,” DiPietro said. “The guys responded. I thought Joe LiCalzi was the best player on the field. He’s our All-County long pole defender, and he scored two goals and shut their best player down.”

Arandale kept Bethpage at arm’s length with a few clutch saves with the Cyclones holding a 6-4 lead. Hill and LiCalzi scored to double the advantage, and Leake’s work on the draws stopped the Golden Eagles from gaining any momentum. “Tim has gotten on a nice roll now,” DiPietro said of Leake. “Even when he’s not winning the draw instantly, we’re fighting for the 50-50s and getting most of them.”

The Bethpage game didn’t bring all positive news, however, as talented sophomore Jack Kimmel suffered a broken wrist and is out indefinitely. Kimmel, who was slowed by a bout with mono early in the year, totaled five goals and four assists in four games. “It’s a tough blow and we have to again find a way to compensate for Jack’s absence,” DiPietro said. 

South Side hosts Lynbrook this Friday at 7 p.m. at Skelos Sports Complex.