PREVIEW: SSHS 2011 Girls Soccer

The South Side High School girls soccer team was one of the top soccer squads in Nassau County last year, but a poor game against Garden City in the playoffs dashed their hopes for a county title.

This year, the Lady Cyclones hope to wash away that sour taste from last year's defeat and regain their spot among the elite soccer teams on Long Island. And how apropos, the Lady Cyclones will face Garden City in its first conference game on Sept. 12.

"They're totally excited about the game," head coach Shannon McEntee said. "Their team has changed a bit, but they're excited for the harder schedule. If they use [last year's lost] as motivation, then so be it."

McEntee pointed out that conferences were realigned by ability — not by school popoluation like last year — and the Lady Cyclones will have to beat the best in the county during the regular season if they want to regain their place at the top. South Side will play Garden City, New Hyde Park and Seaford, among others in their new schedule.

Though the Lady Cyclones lost some key players from last year — Dana Ahern, Jackie Cifarelli and Kelsey Gregerson — the team's leading scorer, Christina Klaum, as well as Sam Ford, Julie Beyar and Caitlin Wallace, are all back to solidify the team's core.

Defense is the team's trademark, McEntee said, but she would like to see the team score earlier in games. "Sometimes we get lacadaisacal," she said. "I want us to pick it up, get a lead, then play out the rest."

Klaum is the team's go-to scorer — she finished last year with 13 goals — but McEntee said teams should watch out for junior Alex Reis. "She played in the middle last year with Christina," she said. "She's got great ball control and definitely has a presence on the field. She may not be the one scoring goals, but she'll definitely have to do with it being scored."

McEntee said she has high expectations for her team, and expects this team to make a deep playoff run.

The journey to a championship starts on Sept. 9 when the Lady Cyclones take on Sacred Heart in the annual varsity Kick Off Classic.