Competition tough on Lady Rockin' Mules

After capturing a league title with a senior-laden roster in 2015, the deck was seemingly stacked against the Malverne/East Rockaway girls’ soccer team this fall. The Rockin’ Mules lost 11 players to graduation, and, thanks to their success, had to move up a conference.

Malverne/East Rockaway cruised through its non-league schedule and prevailed in its league opener, however the Rockin’ Mules have struggled mightily, dropping eight matches in a row. 

After a 5-1 loss Sept. 28 at the hands of first-place Valley Stream South, the team stands at 4-8 overall (1-8 in Nassau Conference AB-5). Senior keeper Alessia Drevnyak had 15 saves for Malverne/East Rockaway.

The move to the new conference, a league that along with South includes Locust Valley, Oyster Bay, Seaford, Great Neck South, and Great Neck North, has been daunting for the Rockin’ Mules.

Longtime head coach Joe Lores is impressed with the competition his team is facing. “I’m a little bit surprised by the level of talent we’re up against,” Lores said. “In most cases, it’s a different style of play than we were used to. The skill-level is high, and each team has multiple scoring threats. Most of the girls from last year’s team, the ones who helped to get us to this point, have moved on.”

Having a multitude of girls who could find the back of the net was one of the keys to the team’s ability to win its league and earn a playoff berth last season. The Rockin’ Mules have just eight goals in conference play in 2016.

In sophomore Kailey Hyland, the Rockin’ Mules have a player who can score in droves, however with opponents marking her and giving her little space to maneuver, the team has had limited offensive production. Hyland, who led the county in scoring as a freshman, leads the team with 17 goals. She scored a program-record five goals in a 6-2 victory over Lawrence in a non-league match.

Junior Gabby Walsh has been another bright spot. Walsh, who is a stalwart on defense and also has strong playmaking ability, has been moved to midfield in an effort to generate more offense. The move has resulted in an increase in scoring, however it has left the Rockin’ Mules vulnerable on the backline. 

Despite a few one-sided affairs, Drevnyak’s play in net has kept the team in matches. She had a season-high 17 saves the first time the team faced Valley Stream South. Junior Cassie Araujo has been a pleasant surprise. Araujo, a defensive-minded player, runs through the ball and wins her share of 50/50 balls.

“It’s important not to get frustrated when we fall behind,” Lores said. “We know that scoring is going to be difficult for us, but we can’t get down when the opponent gets on the board. We need to be competitive in every game, and try to carry some momentum into next season.”

The Rockin’ Mules will host Great Neck North on Oct. 17 at 4:45 p.m. at Malverne High School.