The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly is sponsored by Bryson Financial.
It’s been nine seasons since the Long Beach Poly girls’ soccer team has won the Moore League title–after a run that saw them win four in five years–and the Jackrabbits are hoping that the 24-25 season will belong to them. Led by first-year coach and alum Angel Zavala, a senior-laden group of Jackrabbits is hoping to upend the league and improve on last year’s 9-3 second-place finish.
“The girls are hungry and ready, the motivation is completely different, the energy is there,” said Zavala. “These girls want to leave with a bang. We’re just excited and ready to go.”
Zavala played at Poly and had been a lower levels coach with the Jackrabbits. When he asked his team what changes they wanted to make to the program after he took over, one near-unanimous comment he heard was that the players wanted to get more nonleague action together. Poly played zero nonleague games last year, but this year will play multiple including Los Al and Troy.
“They feel like this is our season and they want to make sure they’re ready,” said Zavala.
The Jackrabbits return five All-Moore League players including last year’s Moore League Defensive Player of the Year Alex Valente, who will anchor a strong Poly defense at the center back position.
“We have a lot of seniors and a lot of experience this year,” said Valente. “Angel is making a big difference with our confidence too.”
Caitlyn Jung will be in goal for Poly this year, with San Jose State signee and all-league honoree Sydney Santos and Trinity Hamilton rounding out the rest of the back line for the Jackrabbits, which should be a strength of the team’s.
In the midfield are a number of other veteran options. All-League selection Sylvia Orliczky will run the show at center mid, but she’ll be joined by quite a bit of returning talent. All-league honoree Rosa Mallach is joined by Washington State signee and all-league honoree Aaya McLyn, Harvard track signee Leila Holland, Joanna Rodriguez, and Katana Van Deusen.
The forwards will be Leah Salas and Makayla Quesada, who Zavala has a high level of confidence in.
“It’s been a really fun group, they’re motivated and they’re hungry, they’re communicating and competing at practice every day,” said Zavala.
Poly will also have some depth with Kadence Bain, Trinity Hamilton, and freshman Lily Montecinos, the only frosh to make the Jackrabbits’ senior-laden varsity roster.
That roster makeup is why this season has a “now or never” feel for the Jackrabbits.
“I have 23 on the roster and only four of them will be back next year,” said Zavala. “Nobody’s safe in the lineup–everyone is fighting for their position at practice every day. There’s a hunger and a drive there.”
For Valente and the other veteran Jackrabbits, there’s a quiet confidence every day at practice.
“We’re confident that we’re going to land on top,” she said. “We’re putting in the work and we’re excited.”
