Special season for South Side

Healey ends coaching career with 181 wins

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This year’s South Side girls’ lacrosse team will always have a special place in Meghan Healey’s heart. Not just because it captured a conference championship in undefeated fashion, Healey said, but also because it would be the last group of Lady Cyclones she’d coach.

“There was a rumor going around that I’d stay one more season, but I’m not sure where that came from,” Healey said. “Ten years ago I set a plan for myself. I still love coaching and the girls are really great, but I wanted to stick to my plan.”

After going 11-0 against Conference IV rivals and beating Jericho in the first round of the Nassau Class B playoffs, sixth-seeded South Side’s season ended May 19 with a 17-8 loss to No. 3 Manhasset in the quarterfinals. Senior Jill Leonard scored four goals in defeat, while Madison Reilly had five goals, and Erin Barry added two goals and two assists to lead Manhasset.

“I brought the girls together after the game and I couldn’t even speak,” said Healey, who also ran the school’s mega popular Red and Blue competition for the last of 20 years. “I just assumed they knew it was my last year, but I never formally told them,” she added. “I wanted them to know how proud I was and what a special season it was. 

“We set a goal to win the conference, and that was awesome,” noted Healey, who began coaching the team in 1996 and registered 181 victories over 16 seasons along with several semifinal playoff appearances.

Of the finale, Healey thought the Lady Cyclones played well in the early going before Manhasset scored four straight to take a 6-1 lead. “We were down 2-1 for a pretty long time,” she said. “I thought we hung in there as best we could. Manhasset has so much talent. All year, the girls felt their work ethic and skill would make for competitive games. They did everything asked of them and really had some big games.”

South Side took control in what was Healey’s final victory on May 17, beating visiting Jericho, the No. 11 seed, 17-5, in the playoff opener. Junior Bridget Considine, who earned All-County honors for a second time, had four goals and three assists, and Leonard, Senior Kelly O’Sullivan and sophomore Jolie Creo all had hat tricks. Senior Grace Kelleher recorded four assists and also scored once, and senior goalie Paige Hennessey, who proved solid throughout the campaign, made six saves. “We came out strong,” Healey said. “When our transition game is working, few teams could stop us.”

Considine finished ranked among Nassau’s leading scorers with 56 goals and 27 assists. Junior Katherine Parker also earned All-County honors. Leonard, who had 36 goals and 29 assists, and senior Bridget Leake, received Honorable Mention All-County. Creo (25 goals, 25 assists) and junior Alex McNicholas (23, 23) were All-Conference selections, senior Carolyn McElroy won the scholar-athlete award, and junior Allison Mahoney the unsung hero award.