Bethpage girls lacrosse player Grace Miller is Newsday's Athlete of the Week

Grace Miller came into this season knowing she had to do what's best for the Bethpage girls lacrosse team to win important games.

But breaking the single-game school scoring record wasn't on her bingo card.

Miller had 12 goals and seven draw controls last Thursday in a 16-13 win over Glenn in a non-league matchup, surpassing Leah Bestany, who set the record in 2021, according to Bethpage athletic director Alyssa Kildare. For her efforts, the senior midfielder is Newsday Athlete of the Week.

"She's so fun to watch," coach Kate Wright said. "She's ripping corners. Her shooting right now is not like any shooting I've seen in the past couple of years."

"I had no clue I was going to break a record. I was so focused on winning the game," Miller said. "The game was so close, so I just kept thinking 'keep going, keep going.'"

Miller is off to a hot start this season. She currently leads Long Island in goals scored with 48, 19 clear of the closest competitor.

"What's so special about her is she's not paying attention to her stats," Wright said. "Her true goal is getting this team as far as we can go in her last year."

Even though etching her name in the school's history books was a great accomplishment for the senior, she couldn't help but credit her teammates for her success so far this season.

"I owe everything to my team," Miller said. "They set me up and fed me the ball," Miller said. "We were all connected that day. I don't know what I would do without my team. I love them so much."

During the fall season, Miller runs cross country, and in the winter, she runs track, saying it keeps her in shape and prepares her mentally for the lacrosse season.

"Being an athlete is one of my favorite things in the world," she said. "It's a competitive mentality that helps me through it all."

In addition to her performances on the field, Miller maintains a 4.0 GPA and is committed to playing lacrosse at Loyola University Maryland.

"The second I saw the school, I fell in love with it," Miller said. "The team is so close with one another, and that's the type of environment I prefer."

Miller is also a part of Athletes Helping Athletes and is a peer leader at the school, where she helps students with special needs in their physical education classes.

"You really make a special connection with all the kids you come across," Miller said. "I like to help out any which way I can. It's great to interact with everyone."

Miller says even though breaking a school record was an honor, she has her eyes set on becoming an All-American.

"I put so much time and effort into this sport," she said. "It would be nice just for it to pay off."

By Jonathan Ruban

jonathan.ruban@newsday.com

Jonathan Ruban covers high school sports for Newsday after graduating from St. John’s.