South Side carries high expectations

Coming off a heartbreaking ending in the 2019 Nassau Class A girls’ soccer semifinals, South Side boasts a roster full of experience, talent, depth and determination.

“Expectations are high,” Cyclones coach Jennifer Abgarian said. “We returned all but two starters and everyone knows the system and how we want to play. With no state tournament this year we’re looking at the county championship as our states. Our goal is to win it and the girls’ desire to win has set the tone early.”

South Side, which lost a controversial heartbreaker to eventual county champion MacArthur in the 2019 semis, began a challenging Conference I slate with a 3-0 victory over Mepham followed by a 3-3 draw with Garden City. Senior Kate Sweeney and junior Emma Madden scored in both games.

“Every team in our conference has something special,” Abgarian said. “Every game is a challenge. We want to make the season worthwhile.”

The core of South Side’s 4-3-3 formation is its center-midfield trio of Madden, Maddie Roberti and Emma Hospodka. All three are returning award-winners. “We play through them,” Abgarian said. She said Madden encompasses the team’s “practice like you play” philosophy and brings great footwork and distribution skills. Her goal with 11 seconds left earned the Cyclones a key point against Garden City.

“We gave up two early goals against Garden City but played a strong game,” Abgarian said. “Emma’s late goal showed we’re always going to play until the final whistle.”

Roberti, a senior captain, is an All-County, defensive-minded midfielder who makes smart decisions and wins the large majority of 50-50 balls, Abgarian said. Hospodka, a junior, has a gritty style and a strong skill set.

The forward group is deep and features a mix of veterans and underclassmen. Senior All-Conference selection Ella Delmond is a captain and playmaker. Her younger sister, Mia, a junior, netted the team’s first goal against Garden City. Sweeney features a rocket shot, Abgarian said, and is playing with a lot of confidence out of the gate. Junior Bridget Basile, sophomore Maggie Colvin and freshman Nora Basile are also major parts of the rotation. Nora Basile started each of the first two games and scored in the win over Mepham and picked up an assist against Garden City.

Defensively, three starters returned including senior captain Sydney Rathjen, who Abgarian said serves as a calming influence in the back. Senior Maddy Wolfrom hardly comes off the field, and junior All-Class selection Cristina LiCalzi has an attacking mindset that sparks the transition game. Juniors Anna Pennecke and Brenna Haynes are making fast strides while taking on larger roles.

In goal, it’s freshman Avery Testa. Her varsity debut was a memorable one March 8 as she made 10 saves to post a shutout against Mepham, the 2019 county runner-up. Testa last played at the middle school level but has plenty of goalkeeping experience, Abgarian said. “There’s some pressure on Avery but she’s played wonderfully so far,” the coach noted.