The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
The end of the league schedule typically marks the start of playoff action, when it’s Moore League versus everyone. That wasn’t the case for Wilson and Compton, who crossed paths in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 3 girls’ lacrosse playoffs on Tuesday for their third meeting of the year.
That, of course, meant someone’s season had to end, and the Tarbabes had their hands full against an undefeated Moore League champion Wilson team. Despite a tough fight from Compton, the Bruins took care of business in the first round, eventually pulling away for an 11-5 win.
“Incredibly happy with the result today,” Wilson coach Vic Escoto said. “There was the good, the bad, the ugly, and we’ll go over it tomorrow at practice. There are definitely some things we can clean up before we move to the second round Thursday, but they gave me so much effort. Compton’s good and they came at us. That one wasn’t as easy, but we’re happy with the result and looking forward to Thursday.”
Dating back to last year, Tuesday’s matchup was the sixth time Wilson has clashed with Compton after also facing the Tarbabes in a preseason tournament last season. The Bruins have walked away with the win in all six games and used some of that familiarity in their first-round playoff win.
“It’s a little bit of an advantage in the playoffs because we know their best players and their style of play and how to defend it,” said Wilson senior Brook Donovan. “We also just practice really hard to prepare for any type of game, and even though we’ve played them a million times, we still went into it like it was our first time. We always just want to come out as hard as possible.”
Donovan was a part of what was a big afternoon for Wilson’s senior class, as five of the six goal scorers were seniors. Donovan and Mia Romera each finished with a hat trick, while Mila Elsessor had a pair of goals. Hazel Zernich and Megan Ligenza each finished with a goal, while junior Fiona Tancioco also tacked on a score.
“It’s pretty much been the same class for all four years, so we’ve just focused on getting better each year,” Donovan said of the veteran leadership. “We have such good chemistry because we all know each other really well, and I think that helps us trust each other a ton.”
The senior opened the scoring off an 8-meter opportunity in the first five minutes of the game before Elsessor tacked on a goal later in the quarter to double the lead. Compton wouldn’t be put away early, though, as Ja’Lynn Davis found the back of the net before the teams traded a pair of goals each in the second quarter, including Davis’ second.
After holding just a two-goal lead at halftime, the Bruins then ran away with it in the final 24 minutes after putting up seven goals in the second half. With help from another solid night in the cage from goalie Emerson May, Wilson pulled away by a half-dozen goals to cruise to a dominant first-round win.
“We had a couple subs go in to give some of our starters a few minutes,” Escoto said of his second-half changes. “I rely on those girls so much to go in, give a good effort, and do what the starters would do. They’re a critical part of our team and it makes all the difference before are starters go back in.”
Compton got big contributions from Davis along with freshman Emily Galindo, as both finished with a pair of goals while junior captain Savanah Saravia also chipped in a score.
Wilson will look ahead to its second round matchup on Thursday, as the Bruins are set to go on the road to face Glendale at 5pm. The Dynamiters received a bye in the first round and are coming off of an undefeated Prep League championship.
“Prepare,” Escoto said of his message to the team ahead of Thursday. “We just need to do what we do and make sure we do it as a team.”
