The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
Millikan and Wilson faced off Thursday night for an intense game of boys’ lacrosse. The top two teams in Moore League battled it out, but the Rams came out victorious with a 10-5 win over the Bruins.
Millikan proved dominant all over the field in the first half of the game. Good defense and strong goal scorers helped the Rams lock the Bruins up and keep them scoreless until the half.
“It’s great to have that trust in your teammates that they can get it done,” said senior Nick Guzman, who finished the game with two goals of his own. “You can just throw it and know someone is there for you.”
Two goals apiece from sophomores Mateo Venegas and Bennett Hreschuk put the Rams up early in the game. Junior Enzo Nuñez tacked on another goal to put Millikan up 5-0 at the half.
Millikan held Wilson to the 5-0 deficit, hoping to shut them out entirely. However, Nate Donovan and the Bruins had other plans for the second half.
The Bruins outscored the Rams 4-1 in the third quarter, cutting Millikan’s lead in half. Donovan scored two with Brock Cruz and Opie Romero backing him up with goals of their own. Nick Guzman scored the lone third quarter goal for the Rams.
Millikan head coach Tom Sutfin called a timeout, as the Rams were now only ahead 6-4.
“They had gotten off the rails and the conversation was to put them back on track. When they play lacrosse, they win,” commented Sutfin.
Coach had that right. The Rams went into the fourth quarter only up by two but by the end of the game, they had added four more goals to secure their win.
Senior Hayden Granado scored two for the Rams in the fourth quarter. Senior Nick Guzman also scored his second of the game while fellow senior Jacob Nugget tallied the tenth goal for the Rams.
Nate Donovan completed his hat trick in the final minute of the game but he stood as the lone Bruin scorer in the fourth quarter.
The Bruins couldn’t do enough as they fell to the Rams 10-5 in the final.
Both squads play again on Tuesday, March 29, as Millikan faces Cabrillo and Wilson takes on Lakewood.
