Long Beach returns to semis

One game does not make a season, but in the case of Long Beach’s girls’ lacrosse team there was a lot riding on its Nassau Class B quarterfinal playoff matchup at Plainedge on May 16.

The fifth-seeded Lady Marines, who hit a rough patch in late April and stumbled into the playoffs on a five-game slide, had a chance to avenge a one-goal regular-season defeat to the fourth-seeded Lady Red Devils as well as reach the county semifinals for a second straight year.

It wasn’t easy, but they found a way.

The Lady Marines scored six second-half goals, including the equalizer and winner with less than five minutes remaining, on their way to a thrilling 8-7 victory. Junior Liz Rourke’s third goal of the afternoon with 1:46 to go proved the difference. It came exactly three minutes after junior Melissa Rubin tied it. 

“We had a difficult first half,” said Long Beach coach Rachel Ray, whose team trailed 4-2 at intermission. “At halftime, I told the girls to keep their cool because there was a lot of lacrosse left.

“I felt like we’d get the offense going, but I wasn’t sure we’d have enough time to come all the way back,” she added. “We showed in the last seven minutes how much heart we had.”

Freshman Catie Breglia had two goals, and senior Molly Martin and sophomore Hannah Sofield chipped in one. Senior Jillian Piazza had two assists, and seventh-grade goaltender Sarah Resznick made 10 saves. Sara Stephens, who scored the winner April 29 when Plainedge beat the Lady Marines, 8-7, and Jacqueline Kennedy had two goals apiece for the Lady Red Devils.

“We knew the next possession after Liz’s goal was big,” Ray said. “They had one good chance to tie it and then we killed most of the clock.” Sophomore Rebecca Idson was a key during the late stages as the visitors played keep-away. “They were very excited about the win,” Ray added. “They knew right away what was next.”

Juggernaut Garden City was the semifinal assignment May 22 at Adelphi University, and the top-seeded Lady Trojans proved too much to handle in a 14-7 decision. Martin, Rubin and Sofield had two goals apiece in the season-ending loss. Haley O’Hanlon had three goals and four assists for the winners.

“I don’t think the score showed how well we played,” Ray said. “I was pleased with the effort. We just weren’t finishing our shots. To get back to the semis was awesome. It’s what we wanted. When you play Garden City, you have to be at your best.”

The Lady Marines, who competed in Nassau’s top conference, finished the campaign 6-11. Martin earned All-County honors, while Rourke and Piazza were Honorable Mention All-County. Breglia, Rubin, Sofield and senior Hayley Kosiner were All-Conference. Resznick won the Unsung Hero award, and senior Katherine Meyers was the team’s Scholar Athlete recipient.