Lady Rockin' Mules reach .500

After starting the 2014 campaign by losing three of their first four games, the Malverne/East Rockaway girls’ lacrosse team got on a mid-season roll and turned its campaign around.

With a thrilling 15-14 home win over Wheatley on May 1, the Rockin’ Mules evened their record at 6-6, including 4-4 in Nassau Conference V. Melissa Barto scored four goals and assisted on three others, and Emma Nicoletti added four goals, including the team’s last two, and was credited with an assist to lead Malverne/East Rockaway. Wheatley got five goals apiece from Micki Wain and Julia Balboni. 

Head coach Christine Connell is pleased with how her team improved as the season progressed. “The combination of being inexperienced and dealing with some miserable weather made jelling as a team take a little longer,” Connell said. “We had some girls playing at this level for the first time. Once everyone got more familiar with one another, we played pretty well. Hopefully, we can finish the season on a high note.”

Barto has been the team’s go-to player. The senior midfielder, who recently committed to Pace University, where she’ll be a member of the school’s inaugural team, has 39 goals and 11 assists. She scored a season-high seven goals and added two assists in a 14-5 victory over West Hempstead.

Senior Halle Johnson, a four-year varsity player, is also hoping to play at the next level. Johnson has 27 goals and four assists going into the last two games of the season against Freeport and Hempstead. She scored four goals in a loss to Bellmore JFK. 

Nicoletti has had a breakout season in her second year with the varsity. The sophomore low attacker has 22 goals and leads the team with 12 assists. Nicoletti has four three-goal games, and had a career-high seven points in a 15-12 road victory against Roosevelt.

While the Rockin’ Mules will have a difficult time replacing Barto and Johnson, Nicoletti, goalie Maia Robinson, and Amanda Barbaro lead a group of underclassmen who will return. Connell believes Nicoletti has the tools and the vision to be a very strong player. Barbaro’s speed put her in position to matchup with the opponent’s fastest player.

Connell, who is assisted by James Amalfitano, likes the direction of the program. “It’s important for the girls to play more in the summer and fall if they want to improve,” Connell said. “There seems to be more of an interest in playing outside of the high school season than we’ve had in the past. There’s plenty of potential. The girls just need to play more.”