The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
Thanks to a pair of exciting one-goal victories in the final stretch of the regular season, the Wilson Bruins claimed the program’s first ever Moore League championship in 2023.
The Bruins won a thrilling 10-9 game over Millikan on the road, before hosting new league rival Downey High in the regular season finale. That game went into double overtime, with Wilson ultimately pulling out a 7-6 win thanks to a game-winner from Cash Riordan, off an assist from Nate Donovan.
“I’m so proud of the coaches and players,” said Wilson head coach Sal Cipolla. “We had a few nail-biting finishes this season, but that’s this team. They battle and don’t give up.”
Wilson trailed by three goals at the start of the second half, but held Downey’s offense down thanks to nine saves from goalie Noah Bruce. Donovan and Riordan each had two goals and an assist while Warren Wright chipped in a pair of goals as well.
The Bruins finished the regular season on a seven-game winning streak, avenging their loss against Downey to claim the league title and the Moore League’s No. 1 seed in this week’s CIF-SS playoffs.
Wilson is hosting Corona on Thursday at 3:15 in their Division 3 playoff opener, and would match up against top-seeded Santa Monica with a win. Elsewhere in the D3 bracket, Millikan is at El Segundo, Poly is at Linfield Christian on Wednesday for a 4:30 start, and Downey will also represent the Moore League against El Dorado.
In girls’ lacrosse, Downey won its first ever Moore League title in girls’ sports, and its first in any sport since their boys’ water polo championship in 1971.
In the CIF-SS playoffs, Millikan girls’ lacrosse drew a wild card matchup in Division 3, facing Roosevelt on Monday afternoon. Wilson is at Santa Monica in Wednesday’s first round at 3:30, and Downey will host either El Toro or Orange Lutheran in their playoff opener.
