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Overcast Lucky 13 for Lady Cyclones
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Jackie Cifarelli, right, and Dana Rosney celebrate Cifarelli's second goal in the Nassau Class A title game.
Ron Manfredi/Herald
The South Side girls’ soccer team’s dominance continued with the Lady Cyclones capturing their 13th straight Nassau County and Long Island championships.
After winning the county title on Veterans Day with a 4-0 blanking of sixth-seeded Division, South Side completed its 13th consecutive journey to the state Final Four last Saturday with a 3-0 win over Hauppauge in the Long Island Class A championship game.
Both wins took place at Tully Park in New Hyde Park and both games saw South Side (15-0-2) control the tempo.
Paced by two early goals from Jackie Cifarelli and second-half tallies from seniors Crystal Dunn and Jackie Nicholas, South Side was never in jeopardy in the county championship game against Division, a playoff Cinderella which had achieved wins over Seaford, Hewlett and Jericho. In the Long Island title game it was two goals from Jackie Nicholas and a goal and assist from Dunn that allowed the Lady Cyclones to cruise to victory over Hauppauge.
South Side advanced to the New York State Class A semifinals against Eastchester (16-3-2) on Friday at SUNY-Cortland. The winner takes on Greece Arcadia or Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake in Saturday’s championship game.
While winning titles has become an autumn tradition in Rockville Centre since 1997, South Side coach Judi Croutier said each one has its own special meaning. “To them it’s not 13, this is their one this year,” she said. “It’s a lot of hard work and a lot of time they put in and they came together and played very well.”
In the county title game South Side received balanced scoring from Cifarelli, Dunn and Nicholas along with assists from Dana Rosney and Colleen Burke while putting together constant scoring chances against Division goalkeeper Brianna Spitaliere, who posted 12 saves. Division was unable to contain the North Carolina-bound Dunn as she created constant pressure close to the net with a goal and assist. “She’s a great team player and she makes everyone around her better,” Croutier said of Dunn. “She just helps in all aspects.”
The Lady Cyclones continued their bombardment of shots in the Long Island title game with Hauppauge goalkeeper Diana Poulin making 15 saves. They also had contributions from many offensive players including two goals from Nicholas, one tally from Dunn and assists by Rosney and Jackie Bellando. South Side’s defense was solid in both games as evidenced by goalkeeper Mersina Onesto only needing to make three saves against Division and three stops versus Hauppauge for her eighth and ninth shutouts of 2009.
“The opponent doesn’t really matter," Croutier said. “You have to play hard regardless. Anything can happen.”
When South Side takes the field against Eastchester on Friday it will be two wins from the program’s 16th state title. The Lady Cyclones last captured the state crown in 2007, when they were ranked No. 1 in the nation. They were runners-up last season.
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