Long Beach on the upswing

After a rough start that saw Long Beach girls’ lacrosse produced just one victory in its first six games, the Lady Marines have positioned themselves for a strong finish.

They scored seven of the game’s first nine goals last Friday morning and held off hard-charging Kellenberg, 11-10, behind five-point games from seniors Lexie Correia and Jillian Canner, and eighth-grader Delaney Radin, and a pair of clutch saves down the stretch from freshman goalie Sarah Gusler.

“The confidence is growing,” coach Rachel Ray said after Long Beach improved to 5-6 overall with the non-conference win. “It was one of our tougher starts and we played some close games against some of the best teams in Nassau,” she added. “I’ve been impressed with how we’ve played the last two games and we’re hoping to be at our best when the playoffs get here.”

Correia capped the scoring for the Lady Marines with her fifth goal of the game, giving her a team-leading 34 on the season. Radin had three goals and two assists, Canner four assists and a goal, and junior Maggie Reznick and sophomore Reagan Martinsen also scored.

“The girls have been working cohesively,” Ray said. “Early in the season, we weren’t taking enough pressure off Lexie. Lately we’ve been able to get a lot more offense going.”

Long Beach (2-3 in Conference I) has averaged nearly 12 goals in its last four victories and got its season pointed in the right direction April 9 with a 14-9 win at Port Washington. “It a long bus trip but we came out strong and never trailed,” Ray said. “We capitalized in transition.” Correia exploded for four goals and four assists, Radin added two goals and three assists, Canner had a hat trick, and junior goalie Alexis Palmer totaled nine stops.

Radin has 11 helpers in the last five games and 27 points, including 10 goals, on the year. “She’s only in eighth-grade, but she probably has the best field vision on the team and her confidence level has grown,” Ray said.

Three days after knocking off Port, the Lady Marines put together their first winning streak of 2019 with a 10-6 decision over North Shore. Correia and senior Hannah Lewis had three goals apiece and Radin notched four assists. In goal, Palmer (four) and Gusler combined for seven saves.

Palmer has earned a share of the workload in net after playing strong in a relief appearance against Suffolk foe Rocky Point. “Alexis and Sarah are competing practice by practice and game by game,” Ray noted. “They’re both able to make saves you don’t expect.”

Defensively, the consistency and senior leadership of Daisy Willard and Charlotte Kile is helping Long Beach win the turnover battle and make things happen in transition. “If we’re having trouble clearing, either of them as well as Rivers Cunningham can carry the ball out of our zone,” Ray said.

Three conference opponents remain: Garden City, South Side and Wantagh. “We’re looking for a team effort to bring us far into May,” Ray said.