Lady Marines are making waves

After wining Conference II last year, Long Beach girls’ lacrosse is back in the Nassau County’s top league this year and showing it more than belongs.

The Lady Marines (6-6) have gone toe to toe with traditional powers and enter the home stretch of the regular season with eyes on deep postseason march in Class B. Long Beach’s rise was evident in mid-April when it nearly upset Manhasset in a last second 9-8 defeat before upsetting longtime Class A dynasty Farmingdale 11-10 on April 21.

“They are hungry and want to play these top teams,” said Long Beach coach Rachel Ray, who starred on the collegiate level at Adelphi. “They wanted to prove they belong in this league.”

Sophomore goalie Sarah Reznick has helped raise the Lady Marines’ level of play in her third season starting in net. The University of Florida commit recorded 16 saves in a 6-5 comeback win against Port Washington on April 2. She anchors a defense in front of her that includes Daisy Willard, Chelsea Rotando, Megan Sofield and Paige Rogoff, who is senior class salutatorian.

“She keeps us in games that in years past we wouldn’t have been close in,” Ray said of Reznick, who recorded 14 saves in the near upset of Manhasset. “The bigger the game the more she steps up.”

Junior midfielder Siobhan Rafferty has helped pace the offense with 40 points on 34 goals and six assists. The Stony Brook commit has also won many draw controls and been a key defensive presence as a two-way midfielder.

“She has stepped up in key games,” Ray said of Rafferty, who tallied three goals in the victory over Farmingdale. “She does so many amazing things.”

Senior attacker Catie Breglia is another offensive force who leads team in points with 48 (23 goals and 25 assists.) Ray has been impressed with Breglia’s unselfish play with an increased focused on passing as defenses focus more in on her. Breglia also helps lead the Marines on and off the field as a quad captain with seniors Kaylee Callahan, Caitlin Pyle and Rotando.

Long Beach’s offense has also gotten contributions from sophomore Emma Pfaff, who was recruited to play attacker at Boston University but is stepping up as a two-way midfielder for the Marines. Senior attacher Carly Chernoff has been a spark plug off the bench and registered two goals in a 12-5 win against Baldwin last Tuesday. Junior Katie Whelan along with freshman Hannah Lewis and Jillian Canner have helped land Long Beach crucial offensive possessions in the draw circle with Rafferty.

Long Beach plays its home finale Saturday against New Hyde Park before closing the regular season at Garden City next Tuesday. Ray said the team is driven to go on deep playoff run and try and advance the program into the county finals for the first time.

“We are doing more than competing this year,” Ray said. “We are making waves.”