The562’s soccer coverage for the 2022-23 school year is sponsored by Beach Futbol Club.
The top four Moore League girls’ soccer teams will start the 2023 CIF Southern Section playoffs in three divisions. The wild card games are Monday and the first round is Wednesday.
Millikan is in Division 1, Long Beach Poly and Wilson are in Division 2 and Lakewood is in Division 5.
Division 1
Millikan (16-3-4) won its fourth league title in the last five years and didn’t give up a league goal. The Rams will host Oaks Christian.
“I feel like we’re so good because of all the team bonding we’ve been doing,” Millikan midfielder Mya Delaney said. “(Coach Tino Nunez) is really on us about talking to the (teammates) you’re not close with. When we get to practice we greet everybody regardless of age or whatever. Our chemistry has really grown and that’s what really has enabled us to get shutouts.”
Oaks Christian (16-2-1) won the Marmonte League while only allowing six goals this season. The Lions are riding a 10-game winning streak and haven’t lost since December. Sophomore Avery Oder has a team-high 17 goals this year.
Millikan junior Audrey Stewart and freshman Bella Nunez have both scored a team-high 10 goals this season.
Division 2
Both Long Beach Poly and Wilson are on the road in Division 2 as the Jackrabbits visit La Mirada and Wilson travels to Westlake.
Wilson (12-6-0) enters the postseason as the second place finisher in the Moore League after winning six of its last seven games.
“It’s about having a good support system around you,” Wilson goalkeeper Olivia Herrera said of the strong finish. “If I’m nervous it’s going to make the whole team nervous. Having good leadership and supporting each other is a good way to get rid of the nerves.”
Westlake (12-2-3) finished second in the Marmonte League behind Oaks Christian. The Warriors have only lost to Lions twice this season while allowing 12 goals all year.
Wilson is the defending league champion and reached the second round in Division 2 last year.
Poly (9-5-2) comes in as the third place finisher in league thanks in large part to a stingy defense that only allowed 10 goals this year.
La Mirada (13-3-3) finished undefeated in the San Gabriel Valley League but the Matadores are the second-place representative. They’re riding a nine-game winning streak and have outscored their opponents 31-15.
“This is not an easy match by any means,” Poly coach Anthony Perez said. “We’ve got to keep our lines tight and finish our chances.”
Division 5
Lakewood (7-10-1) will visit Santa Ana on Monday for the wild card round. The winner will face Rialto in the first round.
Santa Ana (8-8-4) finished third in the Orange Coast League while averaging 2.6 goals per game.
