By Tom Jordan
When they took a 2-0 lead on Baldwinsville last Saturday on goals from senior Christine Abrams and sophomore Emily Means, their 12th state title in 16 seasons seemed inevitable. But as coach Judi Croutier said, "Baldwinsville had to come just as far as we did to get to the title game. They've played well, too."
And they played well again, tying the game before intermission. Baldwinsville scored the game-winner, and championship-clincher, on a loose ball in the second half. The Cyclones, who had played so well and overcome deficits when they needed to throughout the year, had several chances to score in the second half but couldn't get the goal they needed.
"It was cold and rainy and the ball was skidding," said Croutier, who led the Cyclones to a 17-2-1 mark in her first season at the helm. "It hurt our style of play, but both teams had to play in the bad weather.
"We had a really great season. The girls hustled and played hard. They have to be happy and proud of what they accomplished."
What they accomplished, for once, wasn't entirely expected. South Side wasn't the favorite to represent the region in the Final Four. That's because the Cyclones actually lost a game for the first time in three years. The team that beat them, Massapequa, was the No. 1 seed when the playoffs began.
But several players, and Croutier, thought the Oct. 1 loss might have been the best thing for a team that had grown tired of carrying the burden of perfection. They'd been playing less aggressively, playing not to lose. Once their 56-game unbeaten streak was behind them, the Cyclones stormed through the rest of the regular season. They won a rematch with Massapequa in their last tuneup for the playoffs, then knocked off Baldwin, Valley Stream Central, East Meadow and Smithtown to claim another Long Island title, their sixth in a row.
South Side made the five-hour-plus trip to Honeoye last week, and it was business as usual when the Cyclones beat Grand Island in the semifinals, 5-1. Abrams scored twice. Means added a goal, as did freshmen Melissa Gimpel and Molly Dreska.
But the 12th state championship wasn't to be. For the eight seniors -- Abrams, Kristen Johnson, Katie Kuntz, Ali Arnone, Katie Kid, Kim Lafauci, Karen Muller and Katherine Stritzl -- it was tough to take.
"They were upset because after all they did this season, there was only one more to go," Croutier said. "For the seniors to lose their last game was hard. It's tough to see them go. They're great girls and good leaders. The team had great unity and they were a big part of that. It was a long bus ride home."
Kuntz, the team captain, said that although the girls were frustrated with the loss, "We're actually pretty happy with the season and how we all played and how great this team has been."
Next season Glynis McCabe, Amanda Abbinati, Tina Diorio, Christine Conway, Lauren Foley and Kerry Hamilton will be seniors. Means, Liz Molloy, Lauren Koppel, Brittany Morrisey, Allie Dowling, Lauren Carey, Jenna Lucchesi, Jessica Kornblum, Lara Rolandi, Vanessa Schiliro, Coral Villandre and Jackie Fasso will be juniors. Dreska, Gimpel, Julie Valls and Brianna Young will be sophomores.
"Our younger players will be determined to get back to the title game next year," Croutier said.
Title No. 12 is still out there.
