By:MELISSA O'HARA
LI champs praised as role models at awards celebration
As the seasons started to change so did the history of South High's varsity girls soccer. The team made school history this fall by seizing the school's first Nassau County and Long Island Class B championship in a girls sport.
The legend started when they defeated Garden City, 2-0, on Nov. 7 in double overtime, winning the Nassau County title. With that win under their belt, the girls moved on to defeat Islip on Nov. 12, 3-1, for the Long Island championship.
On Nov. 17 in the snowy freezing temperature of Rochester, the girls faced Section IV champ Oneonta in the Class B state semifinals, ending up with a 1-0 loss.
To honor the girls for all their hard work and dedication, the Central High School District Board bought each coach and team member a jacket with "VS South Girls Soccer, Long Island Champs" written boldly on the back. Superintendent Ronald D. Valenti spoke about the girls at an awards ceremony at South on June 22, saying that the "spirit and commitment that you bring to this school is critical as role models." Valenti's final words to the graduating girls were to "remember these moments at South," and to those who'll be coming back in the fall, "do good and play hard."
In addition to the jackets, each girl also received the Coaches Award. This award is given to individual team members who show leadership, great athletic ability and team work, explained assistant coach Marie DePace.
Assistant coach Jeannine DePace said, "the girls worked very hard and were determined from the start to get to the States. They put in their all in every practice, all season and had fun doing it, which is very important in high school sports, and they were able to achieve something wonderful."
Photo by Melissa O'Hara/HeraldLI champs praised as role models at awards celebration
