The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly is sponsored by Bryson Financial.
In a year full of injuries throughout an inexperienced roster for the Millikan girls’ soccer team, there’s been plenty of opportunity to go around. Sophomore Alexandra Rios answered the call when her opportunity came on Tuesday night at Long Beach Poly, putting away the game’s only goal in the fifth minute en route to a 1-0 Millikan win.
“Like (Coach Nunez) says, I try to just take every opportunity. I took the opportunity and took a chance and we got the goal,” Rios said. “We all have each other’s backs so there isn’t a lot of pressure since I know I can count on my teammates to have my back.”
“The one message that we’ve been sending to these players is to take on a bigger role,” added Millikan coach Tino Nunez. “With all the key pieces we’re missing and all the injuries we’ve had this year, those returning players needed to be leaders and needed to take on a bigger role. I think tonight they took on that role and it showed.”
The win comes at a needed time for the Rams who now sit at second place in the Moore League after taking a loss to Wilson in their season opener. The pair will rematch on Tuesday in a game that’ll create a clearer sight as to who will be crowned Moore League champs.
“It’s like an emotional roller coaster and these games are very emotional,” Nunez said. “Today you feel not so much the pressure of a must win but we knew we had to give ourselves a chance to try and win and get back into the race.”
Poly outshot MIllikan a lopsided 17-7 and found no shortage of quality looks at any point in the game. The Jackrabbits tallied nine of those shots in the first half and also found three cornerkicks to just one from Millikan.
The Jackrabbits best look at the goal came in the 24th minute on a set piece from Aaya Mclyn that ricochetted back and forth to Joanna Rodriguez and Trinity Hamilton who each found shots in the same sequence. Millikan fended off the attack with a clearance from Savannah Galvan.
Poly also piled on a handful of solid shots in the second half including a shot on goal from Katana Van Deusen to open the half along with a pair from Makayla Quesada. Leila Holland also found a good look on a one-on-one situation meanwhile Mclyn found another set-piece shot.
“We just couldn’t put them away,” said Long Beach Poly coach Angel Zavala. “There’s nothing else to say. You don’t get chances like that against Millikan. They deserved to win.”
“They were huge,” commented Nunez of his team’s defense. “I mean all around the defensive work from all the girls starting with our frontline because that’s where it starts on defense. And then in the back just always having that support where no matter what happens someone is there to help the next player. I’m proud of the group that they’re learning and taking the most of their opportunities.”
Including her 5th minute goal, Rios found three out of the seven Millikan shots including two more quality looks in the 62nd minute. Galvan also found a shot on goal off of a header in the second half as the Rams were unable to pad their lead.
“The past couple of games we’ve scored early on so it was a matter of staying aggressive early on and finding that moment. Everyone wanted it tonight and I think you saw a group that learned a lesson early on in the season.”
Both Poly and Millikan will look onward to their matchups against Wilson in what could be the deciding games in the Moore League standings. Millikan will host the Bruins first on Tuesday before Poly hosts them the week later on Thursday Jan. 23.
