Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Alexis Richards has come a long way, and she’s pulled the Long Beach girls’ soccer team along with her.
With a record of 5-4-2, the Marines are having their best campaign in years. After making the postseason by just the skin of their teeth last year, they’re now locked in to host a game during the first round this season, thanks to their senior goalkeeper.
“She's been phenomenal,” Long Beach coach Ashley Castanio said of Richards. “She's got to be playing the best soccer she has ever played. She's a four-year starter, and this is definitely her best year.”
Castanio doesn’t say that lightly. Being a former goalkeeper herself, she knows better than most when a keeper is truly excelling.
However, she also knows the kind of work that goes into playing the position and has watched Richards meet the challenge every step of the way.
“It’s been incredible watching her turn this page and be so coachable,” Castanio said. “She has a real presence now on the field where she's really owning this team. It's her team. She has come leaps and bounds from when I first started here and even from last year. Her confidence has gone up through the roof.”
Castanio first noticed Richards had reached a new level prior to the season during tryouts. The rest of Conference AAA/AA2 became aware midway through the season, during a stretch where Richards led Long Beach to three straight shutout victories, including one over first-place Port Washington, which remains the only loss on its record.
“That wasn't a shutout that wasn’t given to her,” said Castanio. “It was 100 percent earned, and it was huge for us.”
Richards’ presence in goal has had a ripple effect on the rest of the Long Beach roster.
Working from the net out, the Marines have built their identity on defense, sporting a back line that features veterans, such as senior co-captain Noemi Wright, as well as newcomers, like freshman Julia Russo.
“I always have a bit of a defensive mindset,” Castanio said. “Defense really does win games. Of course, you got to score to win, but I think it starts from the back and then it builds up. If you don't have a good defense to get the ball into the middle third and the offensive third, you ultimately can't score and win games.”
That doesn’t mean Long Beach is starved for scoring. Co-captain Aysu Unver once again leads the Marines with five goals and is supported by Jaymes Lind, Kaitlin Kelly, and Maya Kallelis, who all have three of their own.
But as they have all season, the Marines will rely on Richards in goal as they head into the postseason.
“The girls really trust her,” said Castanio. “When you can trust the goalkeeper, it changes the whole dynamic of a game.”
Richards and the Marines will get one last tune-up before the playoffs when they meet Port Washington again on Saturday at 12 p.m. to close out the regular season.
