Millikan and St. Anthony were the only Long Beach boys’ soccer teams to survive the first round of the CIF Southern Section playoffs on Wednesday.
Millikan 1, Downey 0
The Rams (21-1-6) picked up their first Division 1 playoff win since 2016 thanks to Mason Igawa’s goal in the 77th minute at Veterans Memorial Stadium. It’s the 18th clean sheet for goalkeeper Matt Sutfin and the Millikan defense. PHOTOS
“That’s a typical CIF game where you don’t have many chances,” Millikan coach Rod Petkovic said. “You have to grind it out. You just battle, and we were lucky to put one in.”
Sophomore midfielder Anton Moore came off the bench due to injury and helped Millikan build some momentum on the flanks in the second half. In the 77th minute, Noah Scott’s service into the 18-yard box was headed to the post. Christian Monge kept the play alive and found Jesus Moreno with a volley past the goal mouth. Moreno’s shot clanged off the post, and Igawa finished the rebound with one touch.
“It’s our work ethic and the players pushing each other,” Igawa said of the Rams resiliency. “If we work like we worked today we can go far.”
Millikan will host Santa Ana in the second round on Friday night at Vets.
Long Beach Poly 3, Redondo Union 3
The Jackrabbits (15-5-5) saw a 3-1 advantage evaporate at home in Division 2 action, and then they lost 3-1 in the penalty kick shootout. PHOTOS
“We have to be able to close out games and we didn’t,” Poly coach Eric Leon said. “All credit to Redondo Union. They’re a good team.”
Senior Kenny Barnabee’s 10th minute header off sophomore Christian Mendoza’s cross gave Poly a lead, but Allan Pacheco equalized for Redondo Union in the 23rd minute as the visitors outshot Poly 6-3 in the first half, and 20-11 for the game.
Barnabee helped the Jackrabbits retake the lead in the 34th minute when his long throw in was flicked on by junior Hank Taylor and headed home by senior Henri Chirinos.
Senior Miguel Arroyo put Poly up 3-1 in the 64th minute on a phenomenal personal effort, but Redondo Union’s McKinley Kaweika scored in the 69th and 77th minutes to force overtime.
After a scoreless 20 minutes of overtime, the two teams went to penalty kicks where Redondo Union goalkeeper Osric Vallejo made three consecutive saves in a 3-1 win.
Poly clinched its first Moore League title in 15 years this season.
“We have a good group of kids coming back next year,” Leon said. “We’ve created a target on our backs and next year is going to be a lot harder. We hope we mature enough in these difficult games.”
St. Anthony 3, Milken Community 1
The Saints (10-7-1) took an early lead and cruised to a Division 7 first-round win at Clark Field. St. Anthony will visit Vistamar on Friday in round two.
Cabrillo 1, JSerra 4
Jordan 0, Arlington 3
