She's got game! Sophie Marino wins first start for the Long Beach boys ice hockey team

The clock finally hit zero, and the emotions for Long Beach ice hockey goalie Sophie Marino were through the roof.

After playing hockey for only 12 months, Marino was swarmed by celebrating teammates as the Long Beach boys varsity hockey team defeated Half Hollow Hills, 6-5, in a thrilling game at Long Beach Ice Arena on Dec. 19. Marino was a winner in her first career start.

“I started playing right around this time last year,” said Marino, who hadn’t played on a girls team beforehand. “So if you told me I was going to start a game against a really good team and we were going to win, I would’ve never believed it. I would’ve said there’s no way.”

Just a year ago, Marino was a spectator at a Long Beach varsity hockey game when she noticed the team had only one goalie. Her brother, Matt, a former goalie for the team, jokingly told her she should do it. She laughed and agreed, saying, “I’ll do it.”

But soon after, she wasn’t joking — and the journey began with her brother by her side.

“I watched Matt play his entire life, so I was inspired to try,” she said. “I started playing with his old gear and got on the ice as much as possible. He would shoot on me in the backyard and helped me so much. He is such an amazing coach.”

Matt’s help and her work ethic helped her to make the team the following year as a senior. She is the only girl on the roster. Her gymnastics background and overall mentality helped her thrive.

“She’s not afraid of anything,” Marines coach Rob Carson said. “Nothing fazes her and she knows how to stop the puck, which is crazy since she’s only played for a year.”

Marino — who competed in the inaugural “Girl-Star” game on Tuesday —played sparingly in games that already had been decided and never started a game until goalie Justin Mele suffered a minor ankle injury.

“We went back and forth about it,” Carson said. “We didn’t want to push it, and we were like, ‘Let’s give her a shot,’ and she rose to the occasion.”

“I was so nervous,” Marino said. “But Matt hyped me up, and my teammates really believed in me. Justin helped me so much and cheered me on.”

Half Hollow Hills entered the game with a high-powered offense, scoring 49 goals in its first six games.

“The starting five never huddle up with the goalie,” Carson said. “But before this game they did, and I knew right there they had her back. And they did the entire game regardless of what happened.”

The game produced big plays on both sides. It was tied at 3 in the second period when Long Beach went on the power play, but Half Hollow Hills broke free on a breakaway. Marino came up with a clutch save.

“I was so excited,” she said. “I knew it was a breakaway. I remembered everything Matt told me, tracked the puck and made the save, and the crowd went crazy.”

“It was a game-changing moment,” Carson said. “After that, the energy on the bench was super-high and we ended up pulling it off.”

In the third period, Marino made six saves on seven shots. It was 5-5 before Liam Young scored with 38 seconds left for the Marines.

Long Beach won its third straight game and remained in second place in Nassau Conference I. Marino finished with 18 saves, including several timely stops.

“I was so excited, and it felt so unreal,” she said. “My teammates are amazing and they were so supportive of me. Justin helped me before the game and everyone gave it their all. It was so amazing.”

Marino, who started late and is the only girl on her team, never lets it bother her — and doesn’t think it should bother other girls either.

“They should just believe in themselves,” she said. “It’s not too late to try. Just go out there and no matter what happens, give it your all.”