PLAYOFFS: South Side Girls Soccer Advances to State Final

Katie Ford is no stranger to playing hero -- as a sophomore, she scored last year's state championship-clinching goal against Somers in the fourth overtime for the South Side Lady Cyclones.

So it should come as no surprise that Ford played hero once again Saturday afternoon. The junior forward scored in the 27th minute of the second half, giving South Side a 1-0 win over Cornwall and a second straight trip to the New York State Class A championship game.

Ford's goal came after South Side defender Jess Hawley fired a free kick from 35 yards out. The ball hit the Cornwall goalkeeper in the chest, bounced out of her hands and fell into the box. Ford, who also scored the game-winning against Garden City for the Nassau County championship on Monday, was there for the rebound and buried it into the back of the net.

The Lady Cyclones defeated the Islip Lady Buccaneers 1-0 Tuesday night at Dowling college for their second consecutive Long Island Class A championship.

South Side will now play Janesville Dewitt on Sunday at 4 p.m. in an attempt to win its second consecutive and 17th overall New York State title.