By ANDREW McCLURE
, it did so while battling the injury bug. Head coach Joe Lores would love to have a healthy squad, but he isn¹t making any excuses.
³The injuries keep piling up, but it¹s part of the game,² Lores said. ³The goal is still to make the playoffs, so we¹ll need to overcome the aches and pains. Others will have to step up.²
Kelli Hughes, an All-County performer in 2006, Hughes has been outstanding for Lores over her six-year varsity career. The senior goalkeeper is just three saves away from becoming the first goalie on Long Island, and second in the country, to amass 1,000 career saves. Hughes has been in net for two league titles.
³Kelli is a fearless player,² Lores said. ³She¹s been a great leader since she started here in the seventh grade. She controls her area as well as any goalie I have seen.²
Hughes, one of the team¹s co-captains, has missed the past three games with an injury.
Offensively, the Rockin¹ Mules are led by Alisha Steele, who led the team in scoring a year ago as a sophomore. Steele, a three-year varsity starter, is the team¹s center forward. Steele doesn¹t dazzle opponents with finesse, but overpowers anyone who gets in her path. ³Alisha does whatever it takes to get the job done,² Lores said. ³She gets shadowed by opponents, and still manages to get to the net. She¹s a very steady player.²
One of the strengths of the Rockin¹ Mules is at center midfield. Sophomore Caitlin McShane controls the area of the field where soccer games are won and lost. Her ability to win the ball and control the flow of the game is often the underlying reason for the team¹s success. McShane is currently out nursing an injury. Another strong sophomore is sweeper Emily D¹Archangelis, a second-year varsity starter. D¹Archangelis has great anticipation, and takes all of the team¹s free kicks and corner kicks.
At left fullback, senior Katie Lores, the team¹s other captain, plays steady, mistake-free soccer. Lores contains and anticipates, and rarely gives up anything on her side of the field.
Third-year player Alexis Gabbe, a senior left halfback, adds tremendous energy, fearlessness and speed. With Hughes down, Gabbe stepped in at goalie and made 69 saves in three games. Gabbe also missed a couple games early in the season due to injury. Another strong player is sophomore forward Arielle Grillo, who has great instinct, tremendous soccer IQ and perhaps the most skills on the team.
The Rockin¹ Mules also receive contributions from senior stopper Cathy Allen, a two-year varsity player, senior fullback Sara Lee Ramsawak, and junior fullback Patrice Cummings. Malverne/East Rockaway will host Sewanhaka on Friday at 4:30 p.m. at Malverne High School.
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