Long Beach makes early statement

Long Beach served notice early this spring a third straight trip to the Nassau Class B girls’ lacrosse semifinals may not suffice.

The Lady Marines knocked off perennial powerhouse Manhasset, 7-6, on March 28, in a Conference I home game behind senior Katie Whelan’s three goals and one assist, and senior Siobhan Rafferty’s two goals and one assist. Junior goalie Sarah Reznick made seven saves behind a strong effort from the defense.

“We returned a lot and it’s showed in the first two weeks,” Long Beach coach Rachel Ray said. “We have depth and talent, and the girls are gaining more and more confidence they can play with anyone.”

The Lady Marines opened the season March 20 with an 8-5 victory over North Shore in a playoff rematch from a year ago, then fell 8-7 in double overtime to defending Nassau Class C champion Cold Spring Harbor three days later. “It was probably our best-ever game against Cold Spring Harbor,” Ray said. “We had them 7-6 late in regulation.”

For Long Beach, which fell to eventual county champion Garden City in last year’s Class B semifinals, it all starts between the pipes with Reznick, a two-time All-County selection and an All-American Honorable Mention in 2016. “Sarah’s an unbelievably talented goalie who just gets better every day,” Ray said. “She’s got the fastest hands and anticipates so well. More than half the battle in being a strong team is having a goalie who solidifies and directs the defense.”

Seniors Megan Sofield and Savannah Kile, along with sophomores Daisy Willard and Charlotte Kile, are thriving while handling almost all of the defensive workload. “They’ve jelled quickly,” Ray said.

Whelan and Rafferty are standouts in the midfield. Whelan is usually the fastest player on the field, Ray noted, and makes smart decisions to keep the offense moving. She was Honorable Mention All-County in 2016. “She’s aggressive and athletic,” Ray said of Whelan, who registered five goals and two assists through the first three games.

Rafferty is a two-time All-County selection and brings a nonstop motor to the center position. “She looks so effortless out there I sometimes forget she needs a sub,” Ray said. “She makes big plays at both ends of the field and is our quarterback for everything. I know it’s a lot to say, but we’re expecting even more of our her this year.” Rafferty had a hat trick against Cold Spring Harbor and scored twice versus North Shore.

Sophomores Hannah Lewis, Fiona Rafferty and Lexi Correia are additional vital parts to the midfield.

Up front, sophomore Jillian Canner is a lefty attack who sometimes operates in the midfield. She opened the season with a splash, scoring twice and adding two assists against North Shore. Junior Emma Pfaff and freshman Maggie Reznick, both All-Conference selections, are shifty, smooth, and tough to contain. Reznick is a playmaker with outstanding vision, Ray said, and after three games recorded four goals and three assists.

The Lady Marines have April 19 circled on the calendar. They’re at Garden City for a 4:45 p.m. start.