The Millikan girls’ soccer team earned a crucial 1-0 victory over Long Beach Poly on Tuesday night, thanks to an early goal from sophomore Alexandra Rios. The win was especially important given the team’s challenges with injuries and an inexperienced roster this season.
Rios scored the only goal of the game in the fifth minute, capitalizing on an opportunity when it arose. “Like Coach Nunez says, I try to take every opportunity,” Rios said. “I took a chance and we got the goal. We all have each other’s backs, so there isn’t a lot of pressure, knowing my teammates are there for me.”
Coach Tino Nunez praised his players for stepping up in the absence of key team members due to injuries. “The message we’ve been sending is for players to take on bigger roles,” Nunez explained. “With all the injuries and missing players, the returning ones needed to step up. Tonight, they did, and it showed.”
The win was significant for Millikan, who now sit in second place in the Moore League after losing to Wilson in their season opener. The Rams will face Wilson again on Tuesday in a match that could determine the league champion.
“These games are emotional,” Nunez said. “Today wasn’t a must-win, but we knew we had to give ourselves a chance. Getting back into the race was important.”
Poly outshot Millikan 17-7, creating plenty of chances throughout the game. The Jackrabbits had nine shots in the first half, including three corner kicks compared to Millikan’s one.
Poly’s best chance came in the 24th minute from a set piece by Aaya Mclyn. The ball bounced between Mclyn, Joanna Rodriguez, and Trinity Hamilton, with each player taking a shot. However, Millikan’s Savannah Galvan cleared the ball to prevent a goal.
In the second half, Poly continued to pressure Millikan with shots from Katana Van Deusen, Makayla Quesada, and Leila Holland. Mclyn also had another set-piece opportunity, but Millikan’s defense stood strong throughout the game.
Long Beach Poly coach Angel Zavala acknowledged the missed chances, saying, “We just couldn’t put them away. You don’t get opportunities like that against Millikan. They deserved the win.”
Nunez credited his team’s defensive efforts, saying, “The defense was huge tonight, starting with our frontline. There’s always support in the back, and that’s how we’ve been able to fend off attacks. I’m proud of how they’ve grown and taken advantage of their opportunities.”
Rios, who scored the game’s lone goal, was also involved in other key moments, taking three of Millikan’s seven shots, including two strong attempts in the 62nd minute. Galvan also had a shot on goal with a header in the second half, but the Rams couldn’t extend their lead.
“The past few games, we’ve scored early, so it was important to stay aggressive tonight,” Rios said. “We all wanted it, and I think we’ve learned a lot this season.”
Looking ahead, both Millikan and Poly will face Wilson in the coming weeks, with the outcomes likely to decide the Moore League title. Millikan will host Wilson on Tuesday, while Poly will welcome them on Thursday, January 23.
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