South Side eyes championship prize

After overcoming early season challenges off the field, South Side girls’ soccer is now focused on conquering a repeat county title run and more. 
Judi Croutier, who returned as head coach more than a decade removed from retirement, said the defending Nassau Class A champions have made big strides since she took over the program just before the opener on Sept. 9. Crouttier’s resurrection occurred on the heels of Jude Massillon resigning shortly after the Rockville Centre Board of Education opted not to bring back Jennifer Abgarian despite guiding the Cyclones to a county crown in the spring. 
“We have settled in,” said Croutier, a former standout South Side player who guided her alma mater eight Long Island titles and five state championships before stepping down as head coach following the 2009 season. “We have learned a lot about each other and we’re working for the same goal,” she added. 
Second-seeded South Side (9-3-2) kicked off its championship quest with a dominating 8-0 victory against Long Beach in its playoff opener last Friday to advance to the quarterfinals on Wednesday versus Wantagh after press time. The offense was sparked by two goals from Emma Hospodka along with tallies by Emma Madden, Nora Basile, Laney Fox, Hannah Porter and Maggie Colvin. 
The offensive surge against Long Beach underscores South Side’s myriad of scoring weapons led by Anna Pennecke, Basile, Colvin, Madden and Hospodka. Cristina LiCalzi and Charley Doreste anchor the defense in front of sophomore goalkeeper Avery Testa, who has recorded five shutouts. 

“She has kept us in games and gives us a lot of confidence in the back,” said Croutier of Testa, who registered eight saves in South Side’s 2-0 win against MacArthur on Sept. 23 in a rematch of last season’s county finals. “She shores up our defense and gives us confidence knowing she is there.” 
A win against Wantagh would advance South Side into the Class A semifinals Saturday evening at Cold Spring Harbor High School against the winner of Wednesday’s Garden City- Mepham quarterfinal match. The county finals are scheduled for Nov. 2 back at Cold Spring Harbor. 
South Side is looking to return to the championship stage six months after topping MacArthur 2-0 in overtime in the delayed 2020 season county finals held in the spring due to the pandemic. The Cyclones swept MacArthur in the regular season in two close contests and could be on a collision course with the Generals to meet. 
In addition to seeking a repeat county crown, South Side is also eyeing the program’s first Long Island title since 2012 and a chance to compete for a state championship. There were no Long Island or state championships held in the shortened spring season.
“With South Side we always set high standards for ourselves and you always want to do better,” Croutier said. “You always want that goal but you can’t look too forward and have to take it game by game.”