South Side finishes state runner-up

South Side fell just short in its quest for its first girls’ soccer state championship since 2012.

New Hartford completed an undefeated season on Sunday afternoon by winning its 37th straight game, holding off the Cyclones, 2-1, for the Class A state crown at SUNY-Cortland. Willa Pratt and Anna Rayhil scored for the Spartans, who went 22-0. Sophomore Nora Basile had South Side’s lone goal. 

“It was a great experience and the girls never gave up,” South Side coach Judi Croutier said. “We fell behind 2-0 and just said ‘one at a time.’ We got one and were knocking on the door. We had two corners late in the game but just couldn’t get that tying goal.”

South Side, which finished 14-4-2 overall, reached the state final in dramatic fashion last Saturday night when it defeated Spencerport in penalty kicks, 4-3, after a 1-1 deadlock covering 80 minutes of regulation, two mandatory 10-minute overtimes, and two 5-minute “Golden Goal” OTs in the semifinals held at Tompkins Cortland Community College

On the eve of the state tournament, Croutier shared an inspirational video with the Cyclones sent to her from former standout and U.S. Olympian Crystal Dunn. “It was pretty special,” Croutier said. “Crystal recorded a nice speech and wished the girls luck.”

Nora Basile, Cristina LiCalzi, Anna Pennecke and Charley Doreste scored in penalty kicks, with the latter delivering the decisive tally. Sophomore goalkeeper Avery Testa provided a clutch save.

Emma Madden scored the game’s first goal off a rebound of a long shot off the foot of Kayla Hubler to give South Side a 1-0 lead with 25 minutes remaining in regulation. Spencerport pulled even when Aleena Solano scored with just over 4 minutes to go.

“It was a long night,” Croutier said. “We got back to the hotel at 10 p.m. and everyone ate dinner at 11. But, that’s all part of the deal.”

A week before winning the state semifinal, the Cyclones captured their first Long Island championship since 2014 thanks to two goals in the final 15 minutes for a thrilling 2-1 come-from-behind victory over East Islip. After East Islip took the lead midway through the second half on a penalty kick, Doreste tied it and Pennecke won it.

On Nov. 2, South Side won its second straight Nassau Class A title and 28th in program history, beating Manhasset 2-0. Last spring, its season ended with the county crown since the pandemic led to a decision to not play regional or state championships.

Croutier, who guided South Side to eight Long Island titles and five state championships in eight years before stepping down in 2010, returned to the sideline to lead the Cyclones this fall.

“It was awesome to get back upstate,” she said. “All the girls were new to it. To hear about it is one thing, but to experience it firsthand is another.”