South Side goes down fighting

After falling handily in the regular season, South Side gave top-seeded Manhasset a major scare in the Nassau Class B boys lacrosse semifinals before a three-goal spurt early in the fourth quarter led to a 12-7 season-ending defeat on May 23.

The Cyclones, who had fallen 14-4 at Manhasset on May 4, led by one late in the first half and trailed only 6-5 entering the final period just prior to the Indians taking control with a 3-0 run in less than a minute. The hard-fought loss on May 24 at Hofstra University’s Shuart Stadium left South Side (10-8) just one win shy of vying for the program’s first county title in 13 years. 

“The kids played like warriors,” South Side head coach Steve DiPietro said. “They went all out.”

South Side appeared like it would head into halftime with a lead after Mike Leake fed Danny Mallay for a score on the doorstep with six seconds left in the second quarter that put the Cyclones in front 4-3. Manhasset responded, however, on the ensuing faceoff with John Psyllos striking on transition for the tying score with just one second on the clock.

“It was a lapse that gave them a little momentum back,” said DiPietro of the buzzer-beating goal. “It was a little deflating.”

Manhasset jumped out to lead early in the third quarter, but South Side responded with James Testa firing home a crank shot from the wing with 4:03 left to knot the score at 5-5. Manhasset answered to lead by one heading into the fourth quarter and began to pull away thanks to dominating time of possession from faceoff wins.

“They hit us with three goals in about 30 seconds,” said DiPietro of the early fourth quarter Manhasset blitz. “Outside of that minute we traded goals with them.”

South Side received balanced scoring led by two goals and two assists from Delaware-bound senior Ryan Langdon. Testa and Malloy also tallied two goals apiece along with one tally by Testa, Jack Kimmel and Jonny Pickett both registered one assist on the day.

“Our offensive guys really stepped up,” DiPietro said. “Offensively we did some really good things.”

The Cyclones defense anchored by Georgetown-bound senior Joe LiCalzi kept the explosive Manhasset offense in check for much of the game. Junior goalie J.T. McCarthy stepped up with 10 saves.

“He picked it up,” said DiPietro of his starting net-minder. “He had a solid season.”

South Side graduates 13 seniors who brought the program to a high mark with three straight years reaching the semifinal stage. While the Cyclones were unable to bring home the program’s first county title since 2004’s state championship run, DiPietro is proud of how his players fought until the end against the top teams in Class B.

“For them to go to three straight Final Fours is quite an accomplishment,” he said of the success from the 2017 senior class. “They set the bar.”