Coming into this season the Cyclones had gained a reputation as a fall only team. A team that had a .500 record in the fall, but had only 1 career spring win, the famous Miracle at Baldwin in 2007. The win at Baldwin with only 10 players dressed for the game was the lone win in 26 spring games.
The Cyclones ended any speculation that this spring would mirror the previous 2 when they opened up the season with a thrilling come from behind win in their first round Waldbaums Cup match vs the favored division 7 HBC Cougars. It was the first Cyclone Waldbaums win ever!
After 2 tight 1 goal losses at Levittown and at home vs Port Washington, the Cyclones saw their Waldbaums Cup dream come to an end in a hard fought, evenly played match on the turf in Copiague 1-0.
The Cyclones hard work began to pay off as they entered their best stretch of the season. Beginning with a 4-0 win at New Hyde Park. The next week was probably the most agonizing of the season as the Cyclones played a dynamic game against the Mineola Tigers. Leading 1-0 with 15 minutes to go the Cyclones fell 2-1 in a heartbreaker. It was a fantastic debut in goal for Deniz, who followed that up with a shutout of Manhasset in the first half of a home and home weekend series. Game two of that series was another Cyclone win. Trailing 2-1 after a very uninspired first half, the Cylones came back with 2 second goals to complete the sweep on Mothers Day.
The season then took a puzzling turn as the Cyclones lost to Levittown and Port Washington 6-0 & 4-0 respectively after only losing by a combined 3-1 score the first time they played the same teams earlier in the season.
The Cyclones were fortunate to face the Pantherettes one more time, a game they would win 3-1 before bowing to Division winners Mineola the last week of the season.
There were lots of positive moments for the Cyclones in the spring...
- the emergence of Lisa S and Ariel as two of the divisions toughest defenders, Deniz with a shutout in the goal, Kathleens continued growth coming out of her extraordinary effort, the offense punch coming from new sources like Marissa & Jenna who tied with Jordan for the team lead in goals with 3.
The Cyclones did something unique in the spring allowing the players to choose there own captains. This was a great success. All 4 players, Dana, Jamie, Ariel & Lisa S lead by example either vocally or by example.
In the end, even with a spring best 5 wins the on the field results could have been better considering the talent the Cyclones have. The expectation is for some real improvement in the spring.
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