The562’s coverage of water polo & swimming is sponsored by the Aquatic Capital of America Foundation.
The562’s coverage of Millikan athletics in the 2022-23 school year is sponsored by Curtis Boyer.
Millikan head coach Jose Guzman could hardly contain his emotions after watching his team pull out an intense, nerve-wracking quarterfinal win on Saturday afternoon. The top-seeded Rams were hosting Riverside Poly at LBCC, and neither team led by more than a single goal the entire game.
Ultimately, it was the Rams who had just enough to edge out the visiting Bears, advancing to the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals with a 7-6 victory.
“I’m so proud of them,” said an emotional Guzman of his team. “They worked their ass off this whole year. We went across the world just to get better, and that’s why we did it, man. Because of moments like this. I can’t explain how excited I am for them. I can’t put it into words.”
The teams traded goals for the entire game, tying at every point until Millikan’s seventh goal proved to be the game-winner.
Avery Jensen led the way with four goals for the Rams, converting a pair of five-meter penalties along the way. She had four of Millikan’s five goals through the first three quarters, and said the team’s cohesiveness and chemistry was a key factor in pulling out such a close win.
“It’s usually pretty scary, but I think we just go off each other,” said Jensen of playing such a stressful game. “We tell each other good job and support each other, and that motivates us all to do it for each other … I think that’s the biggest thing that keeps us together and keeps us motivated and playing well together is our chemistry.”
Jennine Osorio, Lindsay Arbing, and Leila Darby were the other goal scorers for the Rams, and those last two delivered in crunch time to put the Rams over the top. Arbing opened the fourth quarter with a perimeter strike just inside the near post, making it 6-5 Rams with 6:21 left to play. After the Bears tied it up for a sixth time, Darby was able to connect with a precise game winner, shooting it just off the post and in to give Millikan a 7-6 lead.
“I think it was just exposing their weakness on the outside,” said Guzman of those decisive goals in the fourth quarter. “Those two key goals on the outside shot was what really helped us out. Shout out to Leila and Lindsey for putting those away for us, man, that was crazy.”
Avery Reyes also made some solid stops for the Rams, racking up 10 saves in the cage, with four coming in the final period.
Riverside Poly got two goals each from Reese McCarty and Petra Schwabe, while goalie Tea Summers made seven saves.
A season ago, the Rams were the top seed in Division 3 but suffered a heartbreaking upset in their second game. A year later and a division higher, Millikan is just two wins away from a CIF title.
The Rams will be back in action next Wednesday, hosting Dana Hills in the semifinals.
