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Light Rain Rockin' Mules cap successful year
The Malverne/East Rockaway girls’ lacrosse team capped off a successful season with a 17-7 road victory over Elmont on May 3. Junior Taylor Cussen and senior Nikki Roell each scored five goals to lead the Rockin’ Mules. The team finished in third place in Conference V with a 6-3 record, 6-5 overall.
First-year head coach Christine Connell, who previously coached the junior varsity team, likes the direction the program is in. “I’m very proud of the girls,” Connell said. “This was a big improvement over last season in so many ways. From tryouts to the last game of the season, there was a tremendous team approach. The girls had excellent chemistry.”
Cussen had a breakout season for Malverne/East Rockaway. The All-Conference center led the team with 44 goals. She scored five or more goals in a game on six occasions.
Connell is very high on Cussen. “Taylor emerged as our go-to player this season,” Connell said. “Her overall game is outstanding. She not only scores, she also picks up a lot of assists. Taylor has a knack for getting open, and she does a terrific job at setting up teammates. We’re very excited to have her back next year. Her hard work is going to enable her to take her game to another level.”
Roell, who picked up Unsung Hero honors, scored 21 goals for the Rockin’ Mules, including six in a 16-9 win over Elmont the first time the teams met. Roell’s ability to score and to get it done on the defensive end made her one of the team’s most versatile players.
Sophomore Halle Johnson is another key contributor who will be returning in 2013. Johnson had back-to-back five-goal efforts in wins over Hempstead and West Hempstead. She also did a solid job handling face offs for Malverne/East Rockaway. Johnson’s accurate shooting ability leads Connell to believe she has the potential to be a big-time player. Johnson earned All-Conference recognition.
