By: Jennifer Marino
Huntington also suffered defeat at the hands of the Lady Cyclones last Saturday in the Long Island Championship. South Side beat Huntington 7-1. The team was scheduled to leave on Thursday for the New York State Championship in Binghamton. Its semifinal game is Friday, against Christian Brothers Academy of Syracuse. If the Cyclones win that game, they will advance to the finals on Saturday.
South Side ended the regular season as the No. 1 team in Class A, with a record of 13-1-2. In the county championship game, at Hofstra, Emily Means, Molly Dreska and Lauren Koppel all scored goals, and Jackie Fosso scored twice. South Side held the lead the entire game, and was ahead 2-0 at the half. Goalkeeper Jessica Walsh had four saves. It was South Side's sixth straight county championship.
In the Long Island Championship game against Huntington in Center Moriches, seven different players shared the scoring: Means, Koppel, Fosso, Melissa Gimpel, Jenna Lucchesi, Julie Valls and Brianna Young. Goalie Walsh once again had four saves.
As the team heads to another state championship, Coach Judy Croutier noted that while some players are making their fourth trip to states, others are making their first. Either way, the whole team is pumped. They started their season with the state title in their sights, after losing in the finals last year. Team captain Lara Rollandi predicted a win at states after their first game. The Lady Cyclones have won nine state titles since 1987, most recently in 2001.
This year's team is especially strong, with all of last year's starters returning except for goalie Christine Conway, who graduated. The senior captains of the team are Rollandi, Lucchesi and Liz Molloy.
