Extras: Halle Majorana

They keep telling me we don’t have infinite space in the newspaper. (There would be plenty of room if they’d just cut everything else out and only ran our stuff. Is that too much to ask?) And since I don’t think that should result in short-changing an interview, we’re often – always – left with extra quotes and details that didn’t make the article. You ever go over a story and think, “That interview lasted 10 minutes but it only takes one minute to read the whole article”? Well, in the vein of “Leftovers” comes “Extras.”

You might’ve (should have) read the mini-feature on Manhasset star Halle Majorana in the spring preview. Here are some of the extras from that interview.

The team graduating 12 seniors and transforming this year: “I text [the former players] all the time telling them how much I miss them. But everything has to come to an end. I think it's a new team. We have a lot of young girls. We're a fast team, which is good. It's fun to see new faces and play with different teammates… We set a goal to get better every game and every practice, and everyone's working hard.”

Now being a senior: “It's weird. When I was freshman, I was the only one on the team, so I got used to being behind those older girls. Now that they're gone, it’s my turn to the lead the team… Hopefully the things I do can rub off and I’ll be a good influence on the underclassmen.”

Being rated the No. 3 player in the country by ESPN Rise: “It's great to have my name out there and be recognized. But I try to forget about it when I’m playing. You can’t get caught up in that stuff.”

When did you start playing? “I was always big on basketball when I was little, but I got into lacrosse in fourth grade. Once I realized I wasn't gonna get to college for basketball – I’m only about 5'4" – I got serious with lacrosse. That was around seventh or eighth grade. All my AAU [basketball] tournaments would interfere with summer lacrosse tournaments, so I had to choose one.

That decision turned out OK, huh? “Best decision I ever made.”

The training regimen last summer: “What I did over the summer was a good experience. I got in good shape from it and learned what it feels like waking up at 6 a.m., getting to the gym and working out for two hours. It builds character.

“During the winter, I'd go to basketball practice, three times a week I'd go to a trainer and do an hour and a half. I was doing sprints, 110s, 40-yard dashes, lifting, stretching.”

Soccer: “I played soccer in 10th grade. I was a goalie because they needed one, and I ended up starting. I played a little in junior year, but I missed games because of all my college visits. I came back this year and I played forward… I didn't score.”

Facing Garden City: “We have to get into the transition game because they're very good on defense. Offensively, we’ll have to move the goalie around - Meg [McDonald] is really good. And we have to lock down on defense because they have so many scorers.”

Manhasset coach Danielle Gallagher
On Majorana: “As an athlete, she's got incredible hands and great footwork. She has great stick skills that not many people are on her level have. When she goes to her left, you can't tell she's a righty. That’s not something you just wake up with. It takes hard work.”

Losing seniors and the talent on this year’s team: “The younger group we have is strong. These kids have come in and they've got a great base to start with. Our JV went undefeated and the kids got plenty of reps. With that, they've come in and they're leaps and bounds above some young groups I've had in the past.”