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 Lakewood Athletics is sponsored by J.P. Crawford, Class of 2013.
The562’s coverage of Millikan Athletics for the 2025-26 school year is sponsored by Brian Ramsey and TLD Law.
As the season grows longer, the defending champs just keep getting stronger.
The Millikan Rams entered Friday evening’s clash with Lakewood High as if their season depended on it, scoring less than two minutes into the match and not relenting from there. The Rams continued to create chances, and led 3-0 before the half-hour mark.
By the end of the night, the Rams were 4-1 winners over the Lancers, taking another big step toward their fourth consecutive Moore League championship.
“We felt like the way the standings were, that they needed to win more than we did, and so we felt like they were going to really come after the game and throw some numbers forward, which they did,” said Millikan head coach Jeff Schofield. “And we felt that would leave them susceptible at the back for us to counter, which is what happened. We scored three, but it could have been a lot. Their keeper made a ton of really, really good saves.”
Schofield was right to praise Lakewood keeper Pol Luna, who made five saves but most of them were worthy of the highlight reel. He twice robbed Millikan forward Grant Johnson at point-blank range–once with a strong hand and once with his face.
Still, Millikan’s barrage was too much to keep down, starting with a goal from a corner kick in the second minute. Barnardo Torres’ ball found the head of Brody Cleven, who put the ball into the proverbial washing machine in front of the net. Senior captain Ivan Cervantes Vega was the first one to make solid contact, sweeping the ball through traffic and into the back of the net.
The Rams doubled their lead in the 19th minute when Jaycob Alfaro-Plascencia headed home a corner kick from Pablo Lica, and then it was Johnson’s turn to hit the scoresheet in the 29th minute. He was able to get his head to a bouncing ball, once for control, then twice to score, as he flicked it over Luna’s outstretched arm and in for a 3-0 lead.
“We really wanted it,” said Johnson of his team’s energy out of the gate. “Last game (against Lakewood) we only won 2-1, it was a pretty close game. And we talked about it before the game, we had tons of energy. I was just going as fast as I could, I was trying to use all my energy, and I was just glad I got to get that goal in. It was a great team win.”
Lakewood pulled a goal back a few minutes before half, scoring on a corner of their own. Jaden Hamilton served the ball beyond the back post, where an unmarked Osiel Morales was able to square up a flat-footed header, powering it under the crossbar and in for a Lakewood goal, making the score 3-1 at halftime.
Millikan continued to create more scoring chances in the second half, and eventually got a penalty called for a handball by a Lakewood defender. That allowed senior Vonnae Ocegueda to step to the spot and put away the final tally, giving Millikan the 4-1 win.
Johnson was the motor of the offense, with six of Millikan’s 18 shot attempts on the night. As one of two underclassmen on the varsity roster, he’s grown into a valuable player in the Rams’ attack. Not only has Millikan won eight league matches in a row, they’ve scored multiple goals in all eight of those wins.
“My confidence was pretty low at the start (of the season),” admitted Johnson. “I was kind of scared, and I was coming off the bench, but as each game came up and the season went on and on, the older guys just gave me more confidence. Now I just have more confidence in all these games.”
Coach Schofield knew this team had the potential to be really good coming in, and it sure feels like the Rams are living up to that potential lately as they prepare for playoff soccer in just a few weeks.
“We’re real happy with where they are,” Schofield stated. “High school soccer is a weird deal, because they’re all coming from these club situations, and you have a short amount of time to try and get them together, and you hope that you can get them on the same page and they peak towards the end of the year. And I think that’s kind of where we’re at right now. And winning eight games in a row in the Moore League is a huge feat.”
The Rams have the chance to clinch their fourth straight league title outright with a win at Compton on Monday. They’ll then end the regular season at Cabrillo on Wednesday.
Lakewood will be at home next week, hosting Wilson on Monday to break a tie for third place in the league standings, then hosting Jordan on Wednesday.
CIF playoff brackets will be released on Saturday, Feb. 7.
