Positive start for Long Beach

Despite the horrendous weather conditions high school sports teams endured throughout March, Long Beach’s offense looked in midseason form while leading the way to victory in each of its first two Conference II girls’ lacrosse games to close the month.

In a six-day span beginning March 26, the Lady Marines totaled 32 goals against MacArthur and Hewlett. Seniors Rebecca Idson and Molly Pfaff each had a hat trick in a 15-6 win over MacArthur, while sophomores Siobhan Rafferty and Katie Whelan recorded hats in a 17-1 victory over Hewlett.

“With the exception of two or three days inside the gym, we were outside practicing or running, or both,” Long Beach coach Rachel Ray said. “We’re as well-conditioned and deep as we’ve been. Our long-term goal is to win the conference, but our motto is ‘win the day.’”

Ray came into the season seeking a balanced offense following the departure of two prolific scorers, and the Lady Marines (3-1) have delivered from out of the gate. They opened with a 7-3 triumph over South Side, getting goals from six different players in the process. “We need the offense spread out across the board,” Ray said. “So far everyone has done their job filling in the gaps.”

Idson, Pfaff, Whelan, and juniors Catie Breglia and Carly Chernoff form a talented group of attackers for Long Beach, which ended a successful 2014 campaign with a Class B quarterfinal playoff loss to Garden City. Breglia (seven goals, five assists through four games) is already in her fourth year at the varsity level and is a dynamic lefty dodger coming off an All-Conference year, Ray said. “She’s so quick,” Ray said. “There’s no easy way to defend her.”

Idson (seven goals, four assists) is “fun to watch,” Ray said, and in her fourth year. Pfaff’s vision of the field makes her a strong playmaker and feeder, while Whelan (six goals) brings a combination of speed and stick skills. She’s taking the majority of draws, with Rafferty, an All-Conference midfielder, handling the others. Chernoff is a strong finisher and possesses the hardest shot on the team.

Rafferty (eight goals) and senior Hannah Sofield (six) lead a deep midfield, Ray said. “Siobhan is the whole package and tough to take off the field,” the coach explained. “She’s coachable, passes really well and finishes with authority.” Sofield, a fifth-year member of the varsity, sets the tone on offense, Ray said. Junior Kaylee Callahan can not only score, she’s also developed into a strong defender with a non-stop motor. Other key contributors in the midfield are junior Caitlyn Pyle, freshman Emma Pfaff and eighth-grader Jillian Canner.

Defensively, the Lady Marines bring plenty of experience and talent with seniors Emma Cohen, Brianne Canner and Melissa Marry. Cohen, a former midfielder, earned All-Conference honors last spring and her speed plays a big role in transition. In goal, Long Beach is stacked with freshman Sarah Reznick, an exceptional stopper with quick reflexes who comes off an Honorable Mention All-County season, and senior Jaclyn Marry.

“A lot of the girls have been together on the field for a while,” Ray said. “They’re having a lot of fun.”