By Zack Richner
After a two-year title drought, the South Side Lady Cyclones returned to their sport-s pinnacle, beating Oneonta 2-0 this past Saturday to win their 11th state championship since 1987. The victory came on the heels of a nail-biting semifinal game, which saw South Side outlast Section III champion Christian Brothers Academy.
The semifinal game persisted past regulation play and through two overtime periods, as well as through two sudden death periods, all tied at zero. A shootout was to decide the game, and the South Side girls came through when it counted.
After South Side sophomore goalkeeper Jess Walsh denied CBA-s first shot, South Side senior Emily Means beat CBA-s goalie to put the Cyclones ahead 1-0 in penalty kicks. South Side seniors Jenna Lucchesi and Alli Dowling and junior Melissa Gimpel also found the net, putting South Side ahead 4-2.
As CBA-s fourth shooter lined up to kick, all pressure turned to Walsh, who would give South Side a win with the save.
I was very nervous, Walsh said. But we have 15 graduating seniors and I knew we needed to win to move on. I didn-t want to let them down.
Walsh sprawled to her right, deflecting the ball away from the net. And with that save, the celebration began.
Jesse played amazing, senior co-captain Lara Rollandi said. She saved two penalty shots and got her hand on all four shotson all four shots! Hardly any goalie, high school or college, could do what she did.
South Side moved on to battle section IV champ Oneonta for the state crown. Going into half-time, however, this game, too, was scoreless.
At half-time, said co-captain Lucchesi, everyone was very encouraging. Everyone had something to say. The first half was very frustrating, but we knew we had to be patient.
Perhaps this patience came from the immense sense of team unity that the Cyclone players have developed over the past year. Lucchesi describes this team chemistry as one of the most important elements of the Cyclones- success.
Before every game, we have pasta parties, she said. And we all like to hang out with one another in our spare time. The captains [Lucchesi, Rollandi, and senior Liz Molloy] needed to build a team bond and a respect that would last throughout the season. I think we did that, and we were fortunate enough to be able to do it towards the beginning of the season.
The players, therefore, never doubted one another, nor should they have. Five minutes into the second half, Lucchesi put the team on top 1-0, and shortly thereafter, Gimpel added another goal for the Cyclones.
The game ended with South Side victorious 2-0.
For many of the seniors on the team, such as Lucchesi, the win was their second state championship; they won their first title as freshmen in 2001
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The first title was very exciting, but as a freshman, I was more of a follower. Now I needed to be a leader; more was expected of me, the Northeastern University-bound Lucchesi said.
The victory was coach Judi Croutier-s first state title as the team-s head coach. Croutier had previously been an assistant coach with the team, and before that, was a player on it.
I was happy and relieved after the victory, the coach said. But more importantly, I was excited for the girlsthey really deserved it.
South Side now looks towards another state title next year, but the team will have to do it without the 15 graduating players.
We-re going to miss [the seniors], the coach said. But we will still have a strong base next year. The returning girls will just have to follow in the Lady Cyclone tradition.
And, with 11 state titles in 18 years, what a tradition that is.
Megan Leary
Lara Rollandi
Liz Molloy
Jessica Kornblum
Vanessa Schiliro
Lauren Koppel
Allison Siegel
Melanie Sharot
Allie Dowling
Melissa Gimpel
Jackie Fosso
Jenna Lucchesi
Juli Valls
Kristen Jaber
Lauren Carey
Sara Coletta
Coral Villandre
Eileen Strong
Katie Starsia
Emily Means
Kim Johnson
Molly Dreska
Carly Luba
Brianna Young
Saara Untracht-Oakner
Jessica Walsh
Sasha Reiber
