Long Beach closes strong

A strong finish following a slow start has set Long Beach girls’ lacrosse up for a bright future.

The Lady Marines reached the county semifinals for the fourth straight year at Adelphi’s Motamed Field after dropping five of their first six games against some of the toughest competition on Long Island. The late-season resurgence that saw Long Beach win four of five in April and close the regular with a 15-6 win against county power Wantagh gives head coach Rachel Ray confidence that a powerful foundation has been laid for 2020.

“Early in the season we were dropping close games to very good teams, but we were getting better and better every game,” said Ray, a former college women’s lacrosse star at nearby Adelphi. “We were playing our best lacrosse in May.”

Long Beach faced a stiff test in the Class B semifinals against top-seeded Manhasset and hung tough in the first half trailing by only two at halftime before the Lady Indians surged late for an 18-8 win. Senior midfielders Lexie Correia and Fiona Rafferty registered four and two goals, respectively, to keep the Marines within striking distance.

“We came out focused and very strong,” said Ray of the first half against Manhasset when Long Beach trailed just 6-4 at halftime. “They didn’t give up and I don’t think the score reflects how the game went.”

Correia closed her high school career on a strong note before she begins her collegiate career at Bryant University by earning All-County honors. Prior to her four-goal effort against Manhasset, Correia netted nine points in Long Beach’s 19-6 quarterfinal win against Jericho on May 15 in which the Marines jumped out to an 11-3 halftime lead. 

“There was no way she wasn’t going to go out with a great game,” said Ray of Correia. “She had a great year.”

Senior college-bound players Jillian Canner (Marist) and Daisy Willard (Binghamton) also went out with a force receiving All-County honorable mention accolades. The Adelphi-bound Raffery, who tallied four points in the Jericho victory, received honorable mention All County recognition.  Hannah Lewis and Charlotte Kile were named to the All Conference team as caps to their careers in a Long Beach uniform.

“My seniors played hard and played strong,” Ray said. “They showed a lot of character and grit.”

While Long Beach loses some key seniors, Ray will return plenty of talented starters led by junior attacker Maggie Reznick, who received honorable mention All County honors. Reznick and eighth grade attacker Delaney Radin shined bright with three goals apiece in a hard-fought 13-10 loss to Catholic power Saint Anthony’s on April 29, which Ray described as the highlight of the season.

Freshman midfielder Cate Miller will also be back next season after earning confidence with All Conference season. Sophomore midfielders Rivers Cunningham and Reagan Martinsen along with sophomore defender Maura Conway will add additional varsity starting experience to the field next spring when the Marines strive for a deeper postseason run.