South Side stops Wantagh

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South Side had been held scoreless by Wantagh for nearly 220 minutes of play this season before striking when it mattered most in the Nassau Class A girls’ soccer playoffs.

The Lady Cyclones, who were held scoreless by Wantagh in two previous meetings, finally broke through on a stout defense when Ally Diez booted a corner kick that was headed in by freshman Lindsay Tighe with 21:16 remaining last Friday night’s semifinal matchup at Cold Spring Harbor High School. Third-seeded South Side (8-4-4) then survived multiple Wantagh scoring chances to set up a county final date with Garden City and a chance to defend its title.

The breakthrough goal by Tighe was the first of her young career, but did not come as a surprise to coach Shannon McEntee.

“I knew she was scoring today,” McEntee said after the game. “She has been all over it at practice.”

South Side’s defense, led by 11 saves from keeper Kayla Klarides, kept Wantagh off the scoreboard. Klarides saved a line drive shot with 11 seconds left off a free kick from Kaitlyn Cerasi taken just outside the box to preserve the win. Another close free kick from Jaclyn Corbin was just wide of the net with two minutes left.

“These girl fought and that is all you can ask for,” said Wantagh coach James Polo, whose team advanced to the semis after playoff wins against Floral Park and Cold Spring Harbor. “Nobody thought we would be where are this season except me and the girls, and it has been an absolute pleasure coaching them.”

Second-seeded Wantagh’s best chance at a goal came with 33 minutes left when Klarides knocked away a free kick attempt and defender Allison Mahoney headed away a rebound attempt with the net empty during a loose ball scramble. On the other end of the field, sophomore goalie Julianna King kept Wantagh in the match with 10 saves.

South Side’s finals appearance followed an up-and-down regular season after the graduation of many starters from last year’s team that captured a Long Island title. The Lady Cyclones finished the regular season 5-4-4, but have stepped up under postseason pressure with a 6-0 first round win against Division and a 1-0 quarterfinals victory over Bethpage.

“The girls are coming into their own and they are finding out how to work together,” McEntee said. “The girls just have it in them to win.”

The heartbreaking defeat closed Wantagh’s season at 9-4 and marked the second straight year the Lady Warriors fell on the semifinals stage. It also closed the careers of a talented senior class led by tri-captains Nikki Sliwak, Darcie Smith and Cerasi that brought the program to new heights including its first win against South Side last year.

“You can’t describe in words what this senior group has done, for the program,” Polo said. “They are truly a class act and I would go to battle with them any day of the week. I’m so proud of them.”