You Won't Believe How Millikan Shocked Lakewood in a Jaw-Dropping Moore League Showdown!

The562’s coverage of Lakewood Athletics is sponsored by J.P. Crawford, Class of 2013, while Millikan Athletics for the 2025-26 school year is sponsored by Brian Ramsey and TLD Law. Additionally, The562’s high school soccer coverage is supported by Long Beach Poly soccer alum Kennedy Justin.

In a striking display of skill and teamwork, the Millikan Rams delivered a powerful performance against the Lakewood Lancers on a foggy December evening at John Ford Stadium, walking away with a dominant 7-0 victory in their latest Moore League girls’ soccer match. This win not only solidifies Millikan's position in the league but also boosts the team’s morale as they aim for greater success this season.

“I just felt happy for the team,” said Millikan junior Harper Young. “I’m excited to see where this takes us, and I just hope we can keep going as a team.”

Prior to facing the Rams, Lakewood had secured a narrow 1-0 victory against the defending Moore League champions, Long Beach Poly. However, both teams knew that previous successes would not dictate the outcome of this match. Millikan Head Coach Tino Nuñez emphasized the importance of maintaining focus, saying, “We had the right approach, understanding that any given day, any given team can beat you.”

Right from the start, the Rams were eager to establish control. Just 42 seconds into the game, sophomore Adelyn Murphy scored the first goal after her initial shot was blocked by Lakewood’s goalkeeper. “Her energy – right off the whistle, she just took off,” Coach Nuñez remarked, praising Murphy’s aggressive style that set the tone for the match.

Millikan maintained dominance throughout the first half, with another score in the 14th minute when junior Alexandra Rios finished off a play initiated by Murphy, extending the lead to 2-0. Rios, known for her technical skills, played a critical role in orchestrating the offense. “She’s more of the composed and technical one who does the dirty work, the one that cleans it up,” Nuñez noted.

Before halftime, Millikan added to their tally with a penalty kick converted by senior Gissel Fang, making it 3-0. Young reflected on the halftime discussion, stating that it reinvigorated their approach: “You want to keep the standard high no matter who you’re playing against, no matter what the score is.”

The Rams returned to the field energized, with Rios scoring again less than five minutes into the second half. This time, she maneuvered deftly around defenders to place the ball in the bottom corner of the net. Coach Nuñez remarked on Rios’s ability to adapt and influence games, highlighting her unique skills. “She thinks outside the box and can change games at any point,” he explained.

Amidst Lakewood’s struggles, Head Coach Angel Ayala acknowledged areas for improvement, particularly in midfield play. “Understanding where we really need to improve on, which is the midfield and tracking back and following players, that’s something we lack,” he said. “That kind of hurt us a lot.”

Millikan continued to press, scoring again in the 55th minute when Ellie Carungcong found the back of the net after a deflection off a Lakewood defender. The Rams kept the pressure high, with another goal from Alyssa Carillo in the 66th minute, bringing the score to 6-0. Nuñez elaborated on the strategy that led to their success: “We did a good job in some moments and that led to some goals.”

As the match wound down, the Rams added one final goal in the 75th minute, with Young scoring after Carillo’s assist, sealing the victory at 7-0. “You have threats in different areas of the field, and that’s always a good problem to have,” Nuñez concluded.

With this win, Millikan improved to 5-1-1 overall and remains undefeated in Moore League play at 4-0, placing them at the top of the standings. Young expressed confidence in the team's trajectory, stating, “We’re feeling good... we just needed to pick it up a little bit more, but I think we did in the end.”

Despite the lopsided score, Coach Ayala remained focused on the future. He highlighted the need for depth in their roster and stressed the importance of keeping his team motivated. “We want to try to motivate them as much as we can and keep them going,” he affirmed.

Next on Millikan’s schedule is a return to Moore League action on Thursday against Compton, followed by the pursuit of a championship at the Best in the West Tournament as the holiday break begins. Meanwhile, Lakewood plans to regroup and reflect on what they learned from this match as they prepare for their next game against Jordan in the new year.

“At the end of the day, I told my girls, ‘We never gave up, didn’t matter what the score was,’” Ayala said. “That’s the most important thing that we took out of this game.”