At number nine in the LILJ top 24 preseason rankings are the Cyclones of South Side in Nassau Class B. This Power Conference team returns an experienced bunch that has consistently found themselves in the playoffs and in contention for a county championship but have yet to get over the hump. This season they hope it will be their year with the amount of players that will graduating at seasons end. Head Coach Steve DiPietro has been leading this program for 18 years, and looks to get the Cyclones over the top this season.
Taking a look at the Cyclones returning offensive players, their attack will be sparked by the trio of Michael Aiello (Skidmore), Liam Livingston, and Griffin Mills. Aiello cashed in 30 goals with 18 assists last season, while Livingston did most of his damage as a facilitator with 17 assists and nine goals for 23 points.
At the face-off X South Side has one of the elite face-off specialists on the island with the senior Cornell commit Michael Melkonian. He was dominant at getting the ball to this offense last season, winning 227 face-offs of a possible 304. With him getting the ball to playmakers like Owen West (Bryant), Cole DiPietro (Hobart), and Cullen Lynch, the Cyclones will be a very dangerous offensive team which averaged 10.4 goals per game last year.
On the opposite side of the field the Cyclones defense is led by defensemen Pat Mullin (Providence), Will O’Toole, Chris Dietz, and short stick defensive midfielder Jack Lozito. In the net they have a new starting goalie as Middlebury commit Michael Muscarella steps in as the starter replacing 2023 graduate Tommy Gentile.
South Side will also see players that will be vying for spots in the rotation this season after playing a small sample size last year or not playing varsity. Players including Brayden Gamberg (LSM), Michael Benfante (defensive middie), Patrick Costello (midfield), Sean Glynn (midfield), Sean Quirk (midfield), Russell DiFrancisca (midfield), and Brendan Vetter (midfield) could all be in the fold to see playing time this spring.
Nassau Class B looks to be very competitive this season with the Cyclones battling teams like Garden City, and Manhasset who are among the favorites to win the county title, and the Cyclones hope that this veteran team can be the ones to bring the county title back to Rockville Centre.
