Playoff Preview: Lady Cyclones Primed for Deep Run

With a high-octane, electric offense and a suffocating defense, the South Side High School Lady Cyclones have a legitimate chance to defend its Class A Nassau County title when the playoffs begin tomorrow.

En route to a 14-0 league record this season, the Lady Cyclones have outscored their opponents by a whopping  64-1 margin, and hope to continue that trend now that one loss can send them home for good.

After a somewhat sluggish start that saw South Side lose to undefeated Massapequa and tie Farmingdale in non-league games, coach Shannon McEntee said she knows her team has found their rhythm at the right time.

"We're prepared for this as a team, I think we really found our stride in the second half of the season," she said. "The girls are really pumped up and excited, most of them have been here before and know that they have to put their whole heart in every game."

While many of the Lady Cyclones have played in the playoffs before, the team's greatest hope of repeating might hinge on a player who is in her first year on varsity — freshman Christina Klaum.

Klaum has been a lynchpin for the offense all season, leading the team in both goals and scoring, finishing the season with 12 goals and an assist. She recorded two hat tricks, and scored in more than half of her team's games. With her ability to finish up top or create opportunities for her teammates through the middle, if South Side hopes to go deep in the playoffs, the ball must go through No. 20.

"Christina has really held her own this season, she's made a name for herself around the league," McEntee said. "We have to expect her to continue the way she's been playing all season long."

Outside of Klaum, the Lady Cyclones have gotten contributions from nearly every player on its roster. Senior Kelsey Gregerson contributed the only two goals against Hewlett on Wednesday, Alyssa Aydinoglu worked her way into the starting lineup with her hat trick against Malverne two weeks ago, and while senior goalie Lauren Lopresti rests before the playoffs, sophomore Kelsey Berki has only allowed one goal.

In all, 19 different players have scored for South Side this season. McEntee said she doesn't care who steps up on the team, as long as somebody makes the play.

"They should all step up – I hope they all step up and play as well as we have all season," she said. "Anyone who is going to score can step up as far as I'm concerned."

Top-seeded South Side will have several key advantages going into the playoffs. They will play the lowest-seeded team, and will be hosting the first two rounds at Skelos Field.

With players like juniors Julie Beyar and Sam Ford setting up the attack from the back, and leadership from co-captains Jacqueline Cifarelli, Beth Gidicsin and Caitlin Hines on the field, there is no reason to believe that South Side won't continue to move the ball decisively around the field.

"We need to take every game to heart now," McEntee said. "Stupid mistakes could mean the difference between continuing playing, or being done and at home."