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Vol. 35 No. 25
JUNE 13 - 19, 2024
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State champions! Brian Ballweg/Herald
Cole DiPietro, left, scored in overtime to give South Side a 12-11 win over Victor in the New York State Class B boys’ lacrosse final last Saturday at Hofstra University.
South Side wins state title in OT thriller By ToNY BEllISSIMo tbellissimo@liherald.com
Trailing by 5 goals in the second half for the second time in four days, South Side’s boys’ lacrosse team scripted an ending fit for Hollywood last Saturday afternoon in the New York State Class B boys’ lacrosse championship game. The Cyclones forced overtime on Michael Aiello’s dramatic goal with 0.8 seconds remaining in regulation, then secured the title 19 seconds into
OT when Cole DiPietro took a pass from Liam Livingston and scored to secure an unforgettable 12-11 win over Victor at Hofstra University. “There’s never any quit in us,” said Aiello, who had three goals and three assists. “It’s such a special group. We have 27 seniors and amazing chemistry. I love all these guys. We worked hard every single day, and to finish state champs is just surreal.” South Side, which won its 15th consecutive game and cap-
tured its first state crown since 2004, fed off the energy of a large crowd to complete its second unlikely comeback in as many games. The Cyclones (211) rallied from a 5-goal deficit late in the third quarter to defeat Yorktown, 10-8, in the state semifinal at the Universi-
ty of Albany on June 5. “It’s indescribable,” said South Side coach Steve DiPietro, who was the team’s offensive coordinator in 2004. “These kids are all grit. They kept battling and battling and trusted each other like they have all
season.” It was also a proud dad moment for DiPietro, whose son netted the state title-clinching goal. “I couldn’t have wished for anything more,” the coach said. “Liam’s setup was CoNtiNUeD oN Page 14