Long Beach makes historic run

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The Long Beach girls’ lacrosse program made its mark with a historic run to the county finals.

The Lady Marines' bid for the program's first county title came up short May 31 against longtime power Garden City, but Long Beach proved throughout the spring that it can compete with the top teams on Long Island. A 10-5 regular season record against the county's toughest competition in Conference I was followed up by a playoff push highlighted by an 11-8 semifinal triumph against Manhasset that advanced Long Beach to its first county title game in program history.

“Our ultimate goal was a county championship and to get to that stage where we are competing for a title after making semis last year is big,” Long Beach head coach Rachel Ray said. “These girls really bought into what we were trying to do.”

Garden City’s athleticism proved too much on the Class B county championship stage at Adelphi’s Motamed Field Garden City in a 17-7 win despite 13 saves from senior goalie Sarah Reznick. Long Beach trailed 10-3 at halftime before battling the eventual Long Island champions close in the second half. The Marines were led by two goals from Siobhan Rafferty with Katie Whelan and Lexie Correia each tallying three points apiece.

“They had the experience being there and that should motivate us for the future,” said Ray of the experience gained from playing in a county title setting. “Hopefully that runner up status will fuel us for next year.”

Long Beach received that opportunity to play for a championship after eliminating longtime county power Manhasset with the Marines seizing control late after the score was knotted 5-5 at halftime. The Marines were led by four goals from attacker Maggie Reznick, along with five points by Correia on two scores and three assists.  Jillian Canner and Hannah Lewis also stepped up offensively with four points and two goals, respectively.

“It was very uplifting,” said Ray of defeating Manhasset, who Long Beach also bested 7-6 in the regular season on March 28 in a game it led from start to finish. “To take them down before and never trail and then do it again in the semifinals says a lot about how far we have come.”

Key players from Long Beach’s rise this spring were recognized with Rafferty, Reznick and Whelan earning All-County status while Canner received honorable All-County mention accolades. Reznick and Rafferty both received national respect as well with All-American honors that were announced Tuesday night.

Ray said the leadership from Rafferty, Reznick and Whelan as tri-captains played an integral part of the progression as a program competing at the highest level in Conference 1. Rafferty and Whelan are headed off to play collegiately next year at Stony Brook and Hofstra, respectively, while Reznick has committed to Florida and will return to the Marines for her senior campaign.

“They really kept everyone in the winning mindset,” Ray said of her captains. “The time that they put into this program really showed.”