Lady Cyclones Back on Track With 6-0 Victory Over Sewanhaka

After two disappointing losses against non-league rivals Massapequa and Farmingdale, the South Side Lady Cyclones got back to its winning ways in league play, beating an overmatched Sewanhaka squad 6-0 in a rain-shortened game Monday afternoon.

The referees opted to cut the blowout ten minutes short, as the field had become a hazard for players, who were slipping, sliding and falling more frequently as the rain and wind picked up in the second half.

Lady Cyclones coach Shannon McEntee said she had no qualms with the referees' decision, considering the game had already been decided in the first half.

"You never want to risk an injury in bad weather like this," she said. "The field was great in the beginning, but it just took its toll on it. They definitely did the right thing by ending it."

South Side (6-1-1, 6-0), who's been having difficulty finishing on offense, peppered Indians backup goalie Elissa Sanci the entire game with shots from every angle. The Lady Cyclones finished with 20 shots on goal, many of which came from outside of the box – including a 40-yard bomb by junior Julie Beyar on a free kick that took a funny hop on the rain-soaked field and somehow slipped past a leaping Sanci.

McEntee said she was happy with the team's revived offense, but knows there is still room for improvement.

"We've been working on our shooting, but it's been tough because we've been stuck inside with the bad weather," she said. "I'd like us to score earlier. That seems to really help us get the ball moving more quickly."

South Side controlled the pace of the game throughout, and rarely found themselves in its defensive half.  Beyar and junior Sam Ford controlled the middle of South Side's defense, clearing out any balls that tried to sneak through and restarting the Lady Cyclones attack.

Sewanhaka coach Joe Desabato said he knew going into the game that his inexperienced team faced an uphill battle, particularly with a two-person bench against an athletic South Side team.

"South Side moved the ball really well – they work really well together as a team," he said. "We knew we were under matched going into the game, but hopefully we can build on how well we played against a better team."

Seniors Caitlin Hines and Kelsey Gregerson, as well as Alex Reis and Kelsey Ford, scored for the Lady Cyclones, who remain undefeated in league play. The girls will play a home game for the first time since Sept. 16, when they take on Lawrence on Thursday after playing six of its last eight games on the road.

"I like a heavy away schedule early in the season, this way you can just relax in the home stretch and be comfortable," McEntee said. "The girls are really excited to be getting back home again, it's going to be great."