South Side girls soccer takes late lead on Sophia Anisansel's header en route to win over Syosset
South Side goes up 1-0 on a goal by Sophia Anisansel during a Nassau AAA/AA1 girls soccer game against host Syosset on Monday, September 23, 2024. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
About 30 minutes before South Side girls soccer took on Syosset, a dance party emerged on the visitor’s side of the field.
The team crowded around in a circle as different South Side players took turns spinning and dancing around. It’s a tradition for the Cyclones that’s done before every game, usually to The Jackson 5’s “ABC.”
“This is a team that’s like no other team, it’s so special,” senior Charlotte Rathjen said. “The tradition is what really makes this team.”
Perhaps the quick toe taps and camaraderie of the pre-game dancing is what made the difference for South Side as the Cyclones defeated host Syosset, 2-0, Monday evening. The Cyclones’ third corner of the game proved to be the charm when junior Sophia Anisansel headed in the go-ahead goal with just over 13 minutes remaining in the game off a cross from fellow junior Brooke Doreste.
“I know Brooke can hit the ball from anywhere,” Anisansel said. “I was just jumping, and I wanted to win the game.”
Rathjen added a second goal about three minutes later, forcing a turnover in the offensive third before rocketing a shot toward the near post just past the outstretched arm of senior goalie Lilly Brill.
“We knew we had 40 minutes to work and give everything,” Rathjen said. “We wanted to finish the game.”
South Side grew into the game as it went along, although neither the Cyclones nor Syosset boasted any sustained possession. But Rathjen’s defensive effort exemplified a strong South Side defense that allowed just four shots on target the entire game, with only one coming in the second half with less than a minute remaining.
“A big thing we talk about on this team is winning the 50-50s, and if we win the 50-50s we’ll win the game,” Rathjen said. “We did a good job of that.”
Eighth-grader Victoria Ranieri impressed for Syosset (4-3). She showcased an ability to keep possession and threaten with a quick build-up. But too many unforced turnovers led to too few scoring chances as Syosset failed to challenge South Side goalie Abigail Gruner on any of her four saves.
It’s an important win for the Cyclones (4-2-1), fresh off a 2-0 win over Massapequa with a home matchup against MacArthur coming up Wednesday.
“We needed this,” Anisansel said. “We won last game, but we want to prove to everyone that, no matter what, this season we are going to go as far as we want.”
