South Side cranks up offense

A revamped roster and injuries have been contributing factors to the South Side girls’ soccer team slow start in 2019, but there is still plenty of optimism that things will turn around sooner than later.

The Lady Cyclones have just one win through their first six games (1-3-2), a 4-2 victory at Conference AB1-foe Manhasset on Sept. 17, as the season approached the midway point. But the offense has picked up tremendously of late with eight of the team’s nine goals this season coming in the last three games prior to press time.

That has quelled the concerns of coach Jenn Abgarian, who saw eight starters leave from last year’s team.

“What’s really nice is that we have a roster of 20, but we’re deep,” she said. “In the beginning of the season, we were focusing on getting to know each other as a team and how we want to play, and then how we want to play as a soccer team.”

Spearheading the surge is junior Ella Delmond, who scored all four of her goals in the last three contests. Delmond, who had one goal last year, scored twice in the second half of South Side’s 3-2 loss to Mepham on Sept. 14 and single tallies against Manhasset and Valley Stream South.

Ironically, Delmond started the season playing right back to help a depleted defensive corps that lost three starters to graduation. The switch has paid immediate dividends.

“She’s very versatile,” Abgarian said. “We just envisioned her playing in the back for us because of her abilities, but we’re so deep that we found a better fit [for others] in the back so we can give her more chances up top.”

Sophomore MacKenzie Creagh, whose second-half tally propelled the team to a 1-1 tie against Sacred Heart in the season opener, juniors Dana Allen and Kate Sweeney, freshman Maggie Colvin and senior Lara Solano have the other South Side goals.

The new defense consists of sophomore Cristina LiCalzi, a holdover from last year, newcomer Maddie Wolfrom, fellow junior Sydney Rathjen and senior Joanna Spaulding. The group has impressed despite a lack of varsity experience.

“A lot of these girls didn’t see much playing time last year,” said Abgarian. “For them to step it up in their junior and senior year as fast as they have, it’s been wonderful.”

Senior goalkeeper Julia Cavanagh has been solid all season with 46 saves, including 10 that preserved a scoreless tie at Calhoun on Sept. 12.

“She’s somebody that we always rely on,” said Abgarian. “She’s able to keep us in games [and] is a leader on and off the field.”

Each conference team qualifies for the playoffs, but if the team’s improvement continues, Abgarian sees no reason why the program can’t go back to being the powerhouse it once was.

“I would like to get to the finals of the playoffs and then take these girls to states” she said. “It’s such a rich tradition in Rockville Centre and it’s what we strive for.”