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.
Big moments haven’t been a problem for the Wilson girls’ soccer team — not with the type of talent the Bruins have had in recent years. They’ve earned signature wins over every top Moore League opponent in the past few seasons, but sustaining that level from start to finish has been the challenge.
But the clock is ticking for a Wilson roster led by a deep senior class eager to deliver the Bruins’ first Moore League title since 2018. With 16 seniors taking the field and a healthy lineup to start the year, head coach Brian Irvin is optimistic about his team’s chances.
“We’ve had some really great victories and results, but we just haven’t been consistent enough,” Wilson coach Brian Irvin said. “Hopefully we can be a little more consistent throughout the season, and knock on wood, we can stay healthy and just keep plugging away throughout the whole year. They’re all pretty much in it together and want to ride off into the sunset with a storybook ending.”
The heart of Wilson’s senior class lies with sisters Kai and Zoie Fontenot, who combine to be a nightmare for opposing defenses. Kai typically plays center back during her club season but is moved into midfield at Wilson, where she joins her sister on the attack. She came up big last season with a brace in a huge win over Millikan, while Zoie is the reigning Moore League Offensive Player of the Year.
“It’s obvious how talented they are, and they bring so many dimensions to the team. The word I use is dynamic,” Irvin described of the Fontenot sisters. “We just can’t solely rely on them. We have to try and get everyone the ball so other teams can’t just focus on them. We have to be a little more two dimensional with those two players.”
Joining the Fontenot sisters on the attack is fellow senior Evan Cassidy. The fellow senior is coming off an injury last season and is looking to add speed and quickness on the wing. Malia Salonga typically plays in midfield but will be pushed out wide on the left side, while Abby Salazar should also get into the mix as the only junior in the front half of the field.
Irvin plans to start Kai in her natural role as a defensive midfielder alongside fellow senior Haley Kaiser, but acknowledges that things can change throughout games and the season.
Anchoring the backline will be senior Ryan Sorensen, who will look to lead the Bruins’ youngest unit on the field. The San Marcos commit is one of the team captains, and says she’s been focusing on her leadership heading into her senior year.
“It’s a collective effort but there’s always been a few girls that step up and I always try my best to lead the program,” Sorensen said. “I’ve just tried to grow as a leader and be positive to everyone because you never know what they’re going through.”
Irvin didn’t commit to a set lineup outside of Sorensen on the back line, but listed Molly Jordan and Ella George as a pair of freshmen who expects to step up on defense.
The Bruins’ deepest position is goalkeeper, where they have four seniors who could all see time in net. Irvin says he expects Violet Corona and Emma Jade Garcia to see the majority of playing time at goalie.
Wilson was previously the only team to win a Moore League championship outside of Millikan in the last seven years, until Long Beach Poly went home with the title last year. The Bruins finished 9-2-1 in the Moore League last season, good for third place.
“We want to take a page out of Poly’s book from last year,” Irvin said. “They were very senior-led and had a great run. I’m hoping we can do the same thing. We definitely want to win the league, and we’ve lost in the first round of CIF the past few years. We need to position ourselves better to advance further in CIF.”
The Bruins will open up their league schedule against Millikan on Dec. 4.
