The562’s coverage of high school soccer is sponsored by Long Beach FC.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly is sponsored by Bryson Financial.
It wasn’t pretty but Moore League champions Long Beach Poly will take it.
The Jackrabbits battled the rain storm and visiting Fullerton in a 2-0 win at home to start the CIF Southern Section Division 3 girls’ soccer playoffs. Poly senior Makayla Quesada scored a brace to provide all the offense Poly needed to advance.
Poly (12-3-1) will visit Pacifica in the second round on Friday.
“The chemistry is just there,” Poly coach Angel Zavala said of his team’s improvement throughout the season. “We’re building and feeding off the energy. (Quesada) brings all the energy, fire and that next level we need.”
Off a 10th minute set piece, Aaya McLyn played a skidding ball into the box that found the feet of Quesada. She got off a shot that was saved, and chased down the rebound on the end line. Quesada turned and dribbled through a pair of Fullerton defenders before using her body to shield a third. That defender ended up falling on the ball, the penalty kick was awarded, and Quesada went to the spot where she converted the goal.
“After the shot I knew if I stayed resilient it would be a corner or another shot on goal,” Quesada said. “I can use my body well and so I used it and luckily (the defender) grabbed the ball. That’s just something my parents, my dad especially, instilled in me. If I’m having an off game then all I can do is try my best. As long as I’m trying my best everything is going to be good. Things will come.”
Asked if he thought the play was dead when Quesada had her first shot saved, Zavala said, “Never with her, no.”
Poly was dominant throughout the proceedings and outshot Fullerton 22-2. The visitors didn’t earn their first shot until a free kick in the 50th minute. The Jackrabbits were able to cut down any Fullerton attack by keeping their shape in their unique 3-5-2 formation. Zavala said that his team’s ability to understand their roles and be fit enough to execute has been key to their steady improvement.
“Over time we’ve worked together a lot,” Quesada said of figuring out how to play in Zavala’s new formation. “In the beginning of the year it was kind of sloppy and all over the place. But we’ve been able to figure out what the key problems are and the communication on and off the field has helped us with our shape and being able to maintain the ball throughout the game.”
The Jackrabbits did exactly that thanks to the organization of the back line led by captain Alex Valente.
“Our backline is solid, and so pushing up just falls into place,” Valente said. “We just keep pushing ourselves. We just really want it. We want to win CIF and go to State.”
Poly had the 1-0 lead at halftime and then doubled it in the first minute of the second half. McLyn sent the kickoff deep to the right flank where Sydney Santos chased it down. Her cross into the box was deflected out and ended up at the feet of Quesada at the top of the box.
“It kind of just fell to me and I know I can hit it with either foot,” Quesada said. “I knew we had to get another goal so I just cracked it.”
Quesada’s shot looped over the goalkeeper and into the net to double the lead. The senior also scored a brace in a key Moore League victory over Wilson last month.
“Ever since the Wilson game our energy has been a lot higher at practice and in games,” Quesada said. “We know what we can achieve. Our team is senior heavy so this could be our last soccer game together so that really fuels our fire.”
Quesada, McLyn and Leah Salas each had a game-high four shots.
“We’re trying to build from (this game), learn from it and come out stronger in the next game,” Zavala said.
