Rockin' Mules face obstacles

The Malverne/East Rockaway girls’ lacrosse team had a solid season in 2012, finishing 6-3 in league play, good enough for third place in Conference V. The loss of many seniors, including an All-Conference goalie, left the Rockin’ Mules with youth and inexperience at most positions.

After a heartbreaking 14-13 road loss to Great Neck North last week, Malverne/East Rockaway stands at 1-4 overall, 1-3 in league play. Despite the disappointing start to the season, Christine Connell, in her second season as head coach, is proud of the effort she’s getting from her girls.

“We’re very young, and we have some girls who are playing for the first time,” Connell said. “We’ve had a few injuries that have hurt us, and it seems like every week there’s something else that goes wrong, but we’re dealing with the obstacles. I’m very happy with the improvements we’re making.” Connell is assisted by Kim Pelean.

One of the obstacles the team is dealing with is breaking in a goalie who had never played the position before. Freshman Renee Best stepped up and volunteered to take over after an injury left the team without a netminder. Connell believes that Best has the potential to become a strong goaltender. She had a season-high 12 saves in a loss to Wheatley.

Malverne/East Rockaway’s defense is led by sophomore Jaelyn Chinchilla. The three-sport athlete is strong on ground balls, and has a knack for intercepting passes. Chinchilla is joined by junior Erin Foley and sophomore Leah McMahon on the backline. Junior Dana Vertuccio provides the Rockin’ Mules with depth on defense. Connell is pleased with the progress of her defensive unit.

Sophomores Kim McCann and Alexis Lopez are a pair of players who fit Connell’s blueprint of putting athletes in position to succeed on the lacrosse field. Hard-working junior Alejandra Lopez works well with McCann and Alexis Lopez.

Junior Melissa Barto is a ground ball vacuum who never stops working. Barto has found the back of the net 13 times. She scored five goals in a 16-8 home win over Elmont. Taylor Cussen, an All-Conference honoree as a junior, is tremendous on draw controls, and does a great job at putting teammates in position to score. Cussen has 13 goals and eight assists.

Junior Halle Johnson, another All-Conference recipient, has tremendous stick skills and an excellent shot. Johnson has a team-high 18 goals, including back-to-back, six-goal efforts against Elmont and Great Neck North. Seniors Alysha Diaz and Linda Halouva, a pair of first-year players, give the Rockin’Mules depth at attack.

Freshman Emma Nicoletti and sophomore Alyssa Tursi are talented players who are expected to be a big part of the future of Malverne/East Rockaway lacrosse. Nicoletti had a pair of assists in the win over Elmont. First-year player Rachel Putelo is a midfielder who gives the Rockin’ Mules another athletic player who will contribute.

Malverne/East Rockaway will host Jericho at Malverne High School on Monday at 4:15 p.m.