Coming in at number 20 in the LILJ top 24 preseason rankings are the South Side Cyclones. Playing in Nassau Class C and in the Power Conference, South Side appeared in the playoffs in 2023 where they won two playoff games and took the number one seeded North Shore Vikings to the brink in the semifinals where they were defeated by one goal in triple overtime. After a great playoff run last season, South Side returns nearly their entire team this year and got to hit the ground running to prepare for the season by taking part in the LILJ HSWL.
The Cyclones offense which averaged just under 11 goals per game last year, brings back a trio of attackers in seniors Caitlin Haggerty (UVM), Avery Testa (William & Mary), and junior Annie Chimienti (Canisius). Haggerty was the Cyclones leading scorer last season, putting up dominant numbers with 51 goals and 21 assists for 72 points. Chimienti in her sophomore season totaled 16 goals and 13 assists for 29 points. Testa returns for her senior season after battling a significant physical ailment her junior year which cost her to miss almost the entire season. In a small sample size last season while not being 100% Testa returned down the stretch of last season and contributed greatly to South Side’s playoff run, ending the season with 12 goals. Back at full strength Testa found the back of the net 15 times in five games in the HSWL.
South Side’s returning midfield includes senior Annie Madden (Lafayette), junior Charlotte Rathjen (UNC), and sophomores Ava Curtis and Keira Gunn. This very productive midfield was led in points last season by Rathjen who tallied 60 points with 44 goals and 16 assists. Madden brought a steady dose of goals and assists with 17 and 18 for 35 points, while the two sophomores Curtis and Gunn each saw the field as freshmen last season and totaled 28 and 10 points respectively.
Taking a look at the Cyclone’s defense, they have two top tier lockdown defenders in their respective classes in senior Stony Brook commit Morgan Harloff and junior Northwestern commit Sienna Connolly, as they will be playing in front of the goalie combination of Tara Cody and Kyla Murphy. Last season it was Cody who was the starter and recored 72 saves, while Murphy playing behind her made 28 saves.
With the move of Manhasset to Class B, this opens the door for teams like South Side to possibly compete for the Class C County Championship this season.
