Thursday, October 1, 2026
Judi Croutier knows not to sweat the small stuff, especially early in the season. That’s because the South Side girls’ soccer coach always has the big picture in mind.
She’s keenly aware of her program’s culture, how it’s carried over from generation to generation, how her roster is always chock full of highly technical players who can play multiple positions.
So although the attack isn’t clicking yet, with two combined goals scored in the first three games, and the Cyclones having lost two straight games to Sacred Heart Academy and Massapequa since opening the season with a 1-0 win at MacArthur, Croutier isn’t concerned.
“We’re hoping that as we keep going, we start converting on our chances and we keep blending with our team,” Croutier said. “We’re still filling in some pieces of people who graduated last year and some injuries right now. Overall, I think we’re starting off where we expected to be starting.”
Of course, it helps to have seniors Brooke Doreste and Sophia Anisansel to build around.
Doreste is a Marist commit who is the general in the midfield, connecting lines as a calming presence. And Anisansel can play anywhere in the Cyclones' spine — from defensive midfield to center forward — and has a high soccer IQ.
Junior Katori Martin, who assisted on Madalena Suarez’s winner against the Generals, has also impressed in the early season.
“Katori’s athleticism, her soccer skill, her aggressiveness, she can play anywhere on the field,” Croutier said. “She can go in as an offensive threat, as a defender, and just her ability to be so agile and able to switch on and off in a second just adds so much to us and the depth for us.”
Julie Faranda is more of a presence as a senior, with her size, speed, and skill up top. And senior Abby Gruner has been strong in the goal through three matches.
“She just keeps maturing and getting better each year,” Croutier said. “She’s had some good saves so far this season, and she’ll definitely be a leadership presence for us in the back.”
In addition to key pieces who graduated from last year’s run to the Class AA final, where the Cyclones fell to Garden City, 2-1, South Side is trying to fill a void left by junior captain Viv Haley, an anchor in the middle of the field who is out with a torn ACL.
But Croutier is encouraged by the chances created in the attacking third. With more time to jell together, the head coach thinks the goals are coming sooner rather than later. The season, she said, is split into thirds, and the Cyclones are still in the early stages of the first phase of facing each team for the first time.
“We’re creating lots of opportunities and lots of chances, and now it’s just getting the feel for each other in midfield and up top, and then just getting that last piece to fit,” Croutier said. “When it clicks, it’s gonna click because we're there and the opportunities are there.”
