The562’s high school soccer coverage for the 2025-26 season is sponsored by Long Beach Poly soccer alum Kennedy Justin.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
The562’s coverage of Millikan Athletics for the 2025-26 school year is sponsored by Brian Ramsey and TLD Law.
The Millikan Rams opened Moore League play with a pair of draws against Wilson and Long Beach Poly, but have been on a tear ever since, winning five in a row against league opponents.
With the way they played on Friday evening at DeHaven Stadium, it would appear the Rams are done with slow starts.
Millikan came out with both energy and quality, racing out to an early lead that they never relented in a 2-0 victory over Wilson–one that gives them a slight edge in the Moore League title chase with five games remaining on the schedule.
“I think the first half was important for us,” said Millikan head coach Jeff Schofield. “I thought we got in behind them. We had good movement from our front runners, and then good passes from either midfielders or our back line to get in behind. And obviously we created a bunch of chances. I just thought organizationally, we were really good. I thought our intensity and communication were good and so that helped us remain in their end.”
It didn’t take long for the Rams to get their breakthrough in the 8th minute. Pablo Lica slid in and sent a long ball forward for Jesse Torres, who held his position well to remain onside and then won a header over a pair of Wilson defenders, flicking a ball right into the path of a sprinting Ethan Weinman.
All he needed was one touch with his left foot to rocket his shot past the Wilson keeper and put the Rams on top.
“I figured they were gonna put a through ball into Jesse, and he got a nice flick on it, so I figured the ball is gonna land at the back post, like it did against Lakewood,” Weinman explained. “It’s kind of like a classic how we play, you know, sometimes you gotta get those flicks in. And with the speed, I just hit it with my left foot. And if you take a shot, you’ll score, that’s kinda how it goes.”
Weinman went nuts after scoring the goal, dancing his way onto the track toward the bleachers, and evading his own teammates during the jubilation. He said the Rams were motivated in this game based on how the prior meeting went against Wilson, and there’s definitely a rivalry between the two teams at this point.
“I was super hyped,” said Weinman of his celebration. “I mean, Wilson, I’m not trying to talk crap on them or anything, but they’ve been talking (crap) all season–last game, too. And I just wanted to come out here and get a win. And that opening goal kind of just sealed the deal for me. I was like, if we get this goal here, the game’s gonna be over at the start. And that’s what happened. We got one, and then Grant scored the second, and we took it over.”
Grant Johnson was that aforementioned goal scorer, and he also scored with his left boot in the 23rd minute. After a bouncing ball ahead snuck past a Wilson defender, Johnson jumped on it, took his time, and buried his shot to double the Millikan lead.
That’s all the scoring the Rams would need as they outshot Wilson 9-0 over the first 40 minutes.
Millikan carried that pressure over into the second half, where Weinman nearly scored again off a rebound, but Wilson goalie Angel Ramirez made a nice save to keep the deficit at two.
The Rams took the first 12 shots of the game before Wilson was able to get some momentum going forward. Manny Alonso’s free kick effort was the best chance for the Bruins in that second half, but a diving save to push it away kept the clean sheet for Rams keeper Kirby Sheets.
As the match progressed, Wilson grew increasingly frustrated with the officiating, and players and coaches alike voiced their displeasure. As the game devolved in the second half, seven cards were issued by the referee, five of them to Wilson, and mostly for dissent, arguing either calls or non-calls.
Wilson head coach CJ Brewer was shown a red card in the second half and was forced to leave the sidelines. Also, senior defender Ethan Supernaw was shown consecutive yellow cards late in the game, forcing Wilson to play the final 10 minutes with just 10 players.
Despite the sour second half, Millikan was surely pleased with the result, and their performance in the first half certainly warranted three points. The Rams appear to be hitting their stride, and haven’t allowed a goal in three consecutive home wins.
“The focus and intensity and communication was what’s been lacking,” said Schofield. “It was lacking the first time we played (Wilson), and lacking the first time we played Poly. And those are the only two blips on our league schedule. So if we can bring that intensity and focus, I think we’re going to be successful.”
Both teams are back in action on Monday, with Wilson (7-9-5, 4-3-1) hosting Compton and Millikan (14-3-2, 5-0-2) lined up for a huge showdown against Long Beach Poly (9-6-5, 5-0-3), with the top of the table up for grabs.
The Jackrabbits played a scoreless draw against Lakewood on Friday, and are one point up on Millikan in the standings, but the Rams have a game in hand and thus a slight edge in the title chase.
