Monday, May 19, 2025
Capping a 4-0 run to start the season, South Side sent defending county Class A girls’ lacrosse champ Massapequa to its first league loss, 15-11, on April 3.
A week later, the Cyclones knocked off another reigning Nassau titlist – this time a tad poetically, dealing Class C champion and Conference 1 foe Wantagh an overtime 11-10 defeat, the final score a mirror image of the teams’ last tilt in last year’s Nassau semifinal, which marked the Warriors’ second win in three seasons over South Side in the semis.
Having weathered a winless league season as sophomores and fought to a .500 showing last spring in elite Conference 1, South Side’s senior core is collecting the dividends of dues-paying – with All-American Charlotte Rathjen ranked second in Conference 1 Power League with a team-high 27 goals, including the April 11 winner against Wantagh, Annie Chimienti No. 2 in Nassau with 25 assists, and Sienna Connolly (Honorable Mention All-American) tops on the team with 60 draw controls to go along with 22 goals, as South Side at the midpoint has turned a page – as well as heads around the league – vaulting to 5-1 in Conference 1, 7-2 overall.
“The girls have really clicked this year,” said Cyclones coach Rob Devlin. “They started the season strong, then walked into Massapequa with a ton of confidence and pulled out a nice win. Then the Wantagh win, that does a ton for your team, when you get over that hump against a team you’ve been chasing.”
“I feel blessed with this team,” added Devlin. “I mean, two All-Americans at midfield, two girls you know will play solid both ways. And then, you know, Annie has really raised our attack.”
Of the veteran trio, Chimienti has made the greatest strides, Devlin said, the attacker’s 44 points (19 goals) ranked third in Nassau – her numbers at the Easter break surpassing last year’s total production (16 goals, 13 assists).
“Annie’s stepped up for us offensively, playing with more confidence,” Devlin said. “She’s off to a phenomenal start taking over that low attack position.”
Sophomores Skye Korten (17 goals, eight assists) and Bobbie Creo (13, five) have been a consistent spark alongside Chimienti, the pair combining for 12 goals in South Side’s last three games, all wins, heading into the break – which matched the duo’s output in its opening three contests – while junior Ava Curtis, injured much of last season, has been healthy all year at midfield, racking up 12 goals and eight assists, her hat trick against Seaford helping South Side ice its league opener, 19-10, March 31.
“Having Ava back has really helped,” Devlin said. “She’s really learned how to be a leader.”
Behind defensive leader Alexa Giannone, fellow junior Tara Cody ranks second in the conference with 76 saves as a second-year starter at goalie for South Side. “Tara realizes how important she is to the team as our only goalie,” Devlin said. “She’s embraced that, and worked hard at becoming a leader.”
Added Devlin: “I think the girls are having fun. And I think they realize when they do that they’ll be relaxed and play better. And so far, that’s what’s been happening,”
