South Side driven for title run

South Side girls’ soccer entered the 2018 season fueled with extra motivation to return the program to championship heights after a rare pre-finals exit last October.

The Lady Cyclones missed out on the Nassau County title match stage for the first time in more than 20 years after 1-0 heartbreaker to Manhasset in the Class A semifinals. A veteran-laden Cyclones team is now focused sharply on delivering a Class A title for the first time in four years and getting a taste of the program’s past championship glory when it captured 16 of 18 county crowns from 1997 to 2014.

“It was crushing for us last year because of the foundation and culture that South Side holds,” said second-year head coach Jenn Abgarian, who brought back eight starters. “We take last year as a learning experience.”

Leading South Side’s charge to erase the taste of last year’s disappointing playoff finish are four senior captains in Kelsey Barrett, Lindsay Tighe, Alex Chruma and Megan Sullivan. Abgarian said her captains were geared up for the 2018 season as soon as the clock struck zero’s in the county semis.  

“As soon as that match ended they were ready to start again,” said Abgarian of her senior leaders, who have helped South Side get off to a 2-0-2 start in Conference AB-1. “They are role models for the rest of the team.”

A youth movement complements South Side’s heavy senior presence with Chruma and freshmen strikers Mia Delmond and Mackenzie Creagh as top offensive targets near the goal.  The 4-3-3 formation features multiple capable scorers Olivia Rodriguez, Sullivan, Ella Delmond, Riley Ford, Madeline Roberti and freshman Emma Madden.

“We are very deep and comfortable with all the girls,” Abgarian said. “It is a good problem to have.”

South Side’s defense got the Conference AB-I season off to a solid start with back-to-back shutouts against North Shore and Wantagh. The stout backline features Barrett, Tighe, reigning All-County senior Erin McElwain and freshman Christina LiCalzi. Junior goalkeeper Julia Cavanagh returns is back to patrol the net and netted 11 saves in the North Shore win on Sept. 14. “She comes ready to play,” Abgarian said of Cavanagh. “She really comes up big.” 

Abgarian, an Oceanside native who played women’s college soccer at Boston University, arrived in Rockville Centre to lead the Lady Cyclones after previously coaching the Herricks Middle School boys soccer team. The Lady Cyclones also get guidance on the sidelines from sixth-year assistant coach Chris Aloisi, a former Major League Soccer player. 

“We’re super excited,” Abgarian said, “The program hasn’t gotten a championship in awhile so there is definitely a drive and a focus to do that this year.”