The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
Like a family road trip with a full tank of gas but no map, Wilson girls’ soccer knows it has what it takes to get to where it wants to go but it has to figure out how to get there.
The Bruins have some elite talent in new roles and they’re willing to take the time to figure out where all the pieces fit in order to compete for a Moore League title.
“We’re trying to play to our strengths,” coach Brian Irvin said. “We want to possess the ball but we also need to get the ball up top to those speedy players and let them be dangerous, let them go at players and let them have freedom.”
Those players are specifically sisters Zoie and Kai Fontenot, who both verbally committed to the University of Miami in September. Kai will play a different position than she does for her club team to fill the No. 10 role as an offensive midfielder, and Zoie will be one of the key forwards she will try to facilitate in attack. This will be the first year that Irvin will have both Fontenot healthy and ready to contribute.
“We didn’t have Zoie available for most of last season, but she is looking strong, healthy and ready to spearhead our attack,” Irvin said. “She’s been in a club environment and has US Youth national team camp experience, so she kind of knows what she needs to do. She doesn’t get extra attention or anything like that. She buys into what we’re trying to do. And she knows that we’re going to try and get the ball to her so she can do her stuff. She is a finisher.”
“They’re that good,” senior captain Lyla Jordan said of the Fontenot sisters. “They’re so skillful on the field. They just dribble around everyone. You get them the ball and they can do a lot with it.”
The Fontenot sisters will be joined by senior Leah Garcia and junior Evan Cassidy in the offensive attack. Both of them have quality Varsity experience.
Jordan (left) also has valuable experience as a defensive midfielder who will try to help Wilson control the proceedings.
“She is a very smart and selfless player,” Irvin said of Jordan. “She’ll just work hard and do whatever we need her to do in that position. She was voted team captain, and the girls look up to her. She’s gonna play a ton of minutes and orchestrate the defensive things for us in the midfield.”
Despite being one of the smaller players on the roster, Jordan has been trying to build a more physically aggressive style of play.
“I feel it working and I definitely have seen a change in the past year,” she said. “You have to step it up and be more physical on the field. You can’t be afraid to go for the ball.”
Jordan will be working in front of the back line that is prepared to step into vacated positions. Senior outside back Sophia Corbett has waited her turn to lead the defense after playing sparing minutes last season. Juniors Ryan Sorensen and Brooke Donovan are the new center backs, and junior Kylee Greenvance is the other outside back.
Wilson will have a pair of capable goalkeepers in juniors Violet Corona and Emma Jade Garcia, who will share time like they’ve been doing in offseason scrimmages.
“I believe those two are very supportive, genuinely want each other to do well and they’re going to compete and push each other,” Irvin said of his goalkeepers.
The Bruins are the only team to win a league title besides Millikan over the last six seasons, so they know what it takes to knock off the Rams and rival Long Beach Poly.
“It’s definitely a mental aspect,” Jordan said. “If you’re down you have to keep your head in the game. You have to stay in it, stay aggressive and use it as motivation to play better. Last year we definitely got down when we were losing, this year we’ve focused on keep going.”
“I think this group is gritty and ready for the completion,” Irvin added.
Wilson opens the league schedule with Millikan on Dec. 5.
