South Side back in finals

After a mediocre regular season that included a four-game winless streak, South Side is one win away from its third Nassau Class A boys’ soccer championship in five years after reeling off four straight playoff victories.

The 13th-seeded Cyclones pulled off an upset of No. 1 Great Neck North last Sunday afternoon at Mitchel Athletic Complex, winning a 1-0 decision behind junior goalkeeper Josh Levine’s third shutout in seven days and senior Alessandro Pugliese’s goal with 2:09 remaining in regulation off an assist from sophomore Ryan Prendergast. Levine made 11 saves, giving him 40 in four postseason games with one goal allowed.

“Even when we weren’t getting results, we never went into panic mode,” South Side coach Fred Paul said. “I never thought we were far off from putting it all together. The kids have really executed well.”

In advancing to the county finals for the fifth time in six years, the Cyclones (9-5-3) faced second-seeded Roslyn (12-1-4) for the title on Wednesday night after presstime. Roslyn beat Great Neck South in the other semifinal, 3-0. “Roslyn is a complete team with talent throughout the lineup,” Paul said. “We’re excited about the matchup.”

Great Neck North had beaten South Side, 2-1, on Oct. 15. Paul said a few lineup adjustments helped turn the tide. Seniors Brian McKeon and Matt Browne led the defensive effort in the semifinals, and junior Andrew Livingstone got the game-winning play in motion with a through ball along the sideline to Prendergast.

Prendergast eluded three defenders before sliding a pass to Pugliese, who blistered a shot from more than 20 yards out. “Alessandro is playing very, very well,” Paul said. “It’s not his first time coming up big in big games.”