It didn’t take long for South Side High School athletics to begin filling in the new championship recognition sign installed last October.
Within weeks of the sign’s unveiling, the girls’ soccer and volleyball teams became the first South Side programs to have their titles displayed, following championship runs that unfolded over a three-week span in November.
Both teams were recognized during a ceremony at the site of the sign, located at the corner of Ocean Avenue and Sunrise Highway, on Dec. 22. The sign, donated by Molloy University, was designed to highlight major athletic accomplishments and provide a highly visible showcase of South Side’s success along one of the village’s most visible streets.
The girls’ soccer team had to work overtime and beyond to capture its third county title in the past five seasons on Nov. 2 after defeating Garden City in a dramatic county final at Farmingdale State College. The match remaining scoreless through regulation and overtime before the Cyclones prevailed 4-3 on penalty kicks.
Senior Molly Barry, South Side’s sixth shooter, delivered the golden PK goal and immediately jumped into the waiting arms of senior goalkeeper Abby Gruner, who not only made two dynamic PK saves but also scored.
“Our team is honored to be among the first programs featured on the new South Side athletic sign,” soccer coach Judi Croutier said. “We capped off our season by winning the program’s 30th Nassau County championship. This is a milestone we do not take lightly.”
It was the Cyclones’ second post-OT win in four days. Brooke Doreste, Maddie Woo, Natalie Cammalleri and Katori Martin all converted penalty kicks in the semifinals against MacArthur while Gruber made two key stops.
Twenty days later, the girls’ volleyball team achieved an even larger accomplishment by capturing the New York State Class A championship, the program’s first in 32 years.
“That was awesome,” volleyball coach Steve Mariano said of the ceremony. “It was definitely an honor and definitely we won’t forget to be one of the first new years up on that board. It was nice to see that sense of accomplishment to see your group’s year under something, especially if it’s a state championship.”
South Side advanced to the state finals in Glens Falls after navigating a demanding postseason against top competition. The Cyclones outlasted Half Hollow Hills West in five sets to win the Long Island Class A title on Nov. 12, then rallied to defeat Rye in four sets in the Class A Southeast Regional final on Nov. 15 after dropping the opening set.
In the championship match against Williamsville South, the Cyclones emerged victorious in a five-set battle, showcasing depth, consistency and resilience over the course of the match. The win capped a season defined by strong team play and mental toughness, as South Side repeatedly responded to momentum swings on the state’s biggest stage.
