Bruins Still Undefeated in Girls Soccer League Play

Long Beach Wilson’s girls soccer team is about as young as a varsity team can be, but don't let that fool you. The Bruins have nothing more than a 6-5-5 overall record, but don't let that fool you either. The Bruins remained undefeated in Moore League play and improved their record to 4-0 after taking apart a clearly outmatched Long Beach Jordan squad, 3-1, this week at Jordan. 

"Our overall record doesn't show it because we've been playing a very tough schedule, but we've been playing really good soccer for about two weeks now," Wilson coach Jason Kirkwood said. "The toughest thing with a young team is to get them to believe that their age doesn't matter.

"Once they compete and see that they can play against girls older than they are, then they start to complete the task at hand and the ball starts going in the net."

The ball certainly went in the net in a hurry against Jordan. Wilson sophomore forward Chloe Gharios scored the first goal off a smooth assist from sophomore forward Chloe Vangrootheest to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead in the first minute of the game.

“I think that we started off real well,” Gharios said. “The ball slipped through the left side of the defense and I saw it and hit it past the keeper.” 

Less than five minutes later, sophomore Madi Grieve scored the first of her two goals on a corner kick from junior Diana Rosas. “It was a great ball from Diana,” Grieve said. “I just ran up on it and headed it into the back of the net.” 

The Bruins played the entire first half in the Panthers side of the field as they took six shots and three corner kicks, while holding Jordan to no shots for the entire first half. 

The score remained 2-0 well into the second half before Jordan’s Arlene Hernandez made arguably the play of the game. Dribbling about half the length of the field, she went through five Bruin players, then made a lovely shot that went past Wilson goalkeeper Raquel Ramos to cut the lead to 2-1. 

“We should never allow one player to go through five players,” Kirkwood said. “For some reason we control the whole game and then have lapses that let the other team right back into the game.” Ramos finished the game with four saves. 

All of Wilson's offense came off well-executed plays, as Wilson took 12 shots and had seven corner kicks for the game. Shortly after the Panther goal, Bruin senior forward Kim Albeno centered a beautiful ball to Grieve who converted the pass into her second goal of the night. 

“I thought we could have played better,” Grieve said. “I think we are going to need to be more focused against Cabrillo on Thursday and Lakewood next week.” 

The victory put the Bruins into a first place tie in Moore League play with Lakewood, a team Wilson faces next Tuesday. 

The Bruins next game is on Thursday at Long Beach Cabrillo at 3:00 p.m. 

“Cabrillo has a couple of really good players,” Kirkwood said. “And we are going to have to do a better job to beat them on Thursday and Lakewood next week.” 

Goals

Wilson:  Chloe Gharios - :57 first half, Madi Grieve – 4:43 first half, Madi Grieve – 54:32 second half

Jordan: Arlene Hernandez – 51:12 second half.

Saves

Wilson: Ramos – 4

Jordan: Castorena – 8