Future bright for Lady Marines

A youth-filled Long Beach team stockpiled one-goal victories this spring and made an impressive run to the Nassau Class B girls’ lacrosse semifinals on the strength of playoff wins over Roslyn and Plainedge.

Rachel Ray, in her third year as coach of the Lady Marines, said the playoff experience and success should serve them well heading into next year when the entire roster returns intact. They finished 11-7 overall, earning four one-goal victories along the way, and ended with a hard-fought loss to eventual county champion Garden City.

“Our main goal was to go deeper in the playoffs than we did last year, and we were able to accomplish that with a very young team,” Ray said. “Everyone is excited for next year already. The girls are already asking about offseason workouts.” 

Ray said the team’s 9-4 quarterfinal playoff victory over Plainedge on May 17 was the highlight of the season. Freshmen Rebecca Idson (three) and Emma Cohen combined for five goals, junior Jillian Piazza added a goal and four assists, and junior goalie Jaclyn Marry made six saves.

“During the regular season we beat Plainedge in overtime,” Ray said. “It’s tough to beat a good team twice, so the girls knew they had to play a great game. They came out strong and were able to lead the whole way.”

Long Beach, which won the regular-season meeting 9-8 on March 21 on sophomore Liz Rourke’s OT goal, built a 4-1 halftime lead in the playoff meeting and never looked back. 

“Everything was uphill for us after the Wantagh game,” said Ray, noting the team’s well-played 15-10 defeat to the eventual county runners-up. “Even though we lost, it was a confidence-builder.”

The Lady Marines rolled into the playoffs on a three-game winning streak that started May 3 with a 12-6 victory over Lynbrook. Sophomore Melissa Rubin had four goals and eighth-grader Catie Breglia added a hat trick, while Marry and junior Elyse Stark combined for six saves. Rubin’s goal was the difference in an 11-10 win over St. John The Baptist in the following game, and freshman Hannah Sofield netted the winner in an 8-7 triumph over South Side in the regular-season finale.

“One of the differences between this year’s team and the past two was balanced scoring,” Ray said.  

Ten Lady Marines scored at least seven goals on the year, led by Piazza’s 28. The well-rounded attack also led the way in the assist department with 24. “She’s difficult to read when she has the ball,” Ray said. “Defenders don’t know if she’s going to the cage or looking to pass.”

Rubin found the net 27 times, while Breglia scored 26. Rourke had 20 goals and also led the way in the face-off circle, Sofield had 15 goals, freshman Jessica Piazza, Jillian’s cousin, had 15, and sophomore Hope Henry scored 10. On defense, junior Molly Martin and Hayley Kosiner set the tone.