South Side capable of Three-Peat

Unless the competition finds a way to consistently crack South Side’s stout defense, the Cyclones could become the first boys’ soccer team in Nassau County history to capture three straight titles in the second-tier classification.

The two-time defending Class A champions returned only five starters, but junior Mark Romanowski and seniors Kyle Morrissey, Kevin Cook and Chris Harkins all played significant roles in each of the past two playoff runs and they’re backed by a solid supporting cast.

“You can’t win a county or Long Island championship with four or five players,” South Side coach Fred Paul said. “I would like to see us go at least 14-deep. We have our core of leaders and we’re counting on a lot of guys from last year’s second unit to step up and handle bigger roles.”

The Cyclones, who won three Class B crowns in a four-year span beginning in 1986, will be challenged throughout the regular season by a group of six Conference IV-A foes that includes last year’s runner-up Wantagh and 2009 runner-up Garden City.

“The conference is loaded with talent,” said Paul, whose team lost 4-0 to Garden City in the conference opener Sept. 14 and 1-0 to Roslyn two days later. “There won’t be a day off.”

South Side’s midfield stacks up to any in the county when it comes to talent and experience. Morrissey, Cook and Harkins all earned All-Conference honors a year ago. Morrissey controls the center and creates a lot of offense with his work on the ground and in the air, while Cook and Harkins do their damage on the outside. Cook is a four-year starter and can slide up to forward if necessary, while Harkins already has three goals in four games after scoring eight times a year ago.

“Kyle’s a difference-maker in the center, and we’re fortunate to be so strong on the outside with Kevin and Chris,” said Paul, who expects sophomore Charles Leone to start in the center and for junior John Murphy and sophomores Kevin Santo and Brian Hurwitz to provide depth.