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A Few Clouds Defensive end fueling South Side
After battling injuries during an up and down regular season, South Side girls’ soccer will look to thrive when it matters most in the postseason in hopes of returning to the state finals stage.
The Cyclones entered the last week of the regular season schedule at 5-2-2 in a challenging Conference A1 riding a three match winning streak heading into their final game Wednesday at Garden City after press time. The team clicked on all cylinders Oct. 6 in an 8-0 win at Mepham that featured five different goal scorers.
“The girls are great and have been working hard,” said South Side coach Judi Croutier, who returned last year more than a decade removed from the last time she led the program. “We are hoping to peak at the right time.”
Croutier brought South Side to major heights in her first stint as head coach leading the Cyclones to eight Long Island titles and five state championships before stepping down following the 2009 season.
South Side is fueled for a championship run after reaching the state finals for the first time since 2012 last year where it fell to New Hartford 2-1. The Cyclones captured a county crown during the delayed 2020 season held in spring 2021, but did not get a chance to compete for more due to logistical challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“She’s had some clutch saves,” said Croutier of Testa, who started as a freshman when South Side won a county title. “She is coming up big when we need her to.”
On offense, the Cyclones have had a balanced scoring attack led by Nora Basile with four to go along with two assists. Maggie Colvin, Sienna Connolly and Reese Haley have also registered key tallies this fall.
Croutier credits the midfield unit of Caitlin Haggerty, Basile and Haley with being integral part of powering a team that graduated a number of seniors from last year’s 13-4-3 team.
In the Mepham victory, Colvin, Haley and Adira Wilson each registered two goals with Hannah Porter and Basile also tallying scores. Annie Madden also shined with three assists and the defense held the Pirates in check with Testa only forced to make one save.
South Side is in third place in Conference A1 behind MacArthur and Garden City. The seeds and bracket for the Class A playoffs will be announced after South Side’s regular-season finale at second place Garden City and then next week the Cyclones will kick off a postseason they hope ends with another journey competing against the top teams in the Empire State.
