LONG BEACH — Last season, Millikan’s girls soccer team suffered just two losses in the Moore League. One of the losses was to Long Beach Poly, and it ultimately gave Poly the league title.
On Tuesday night, the Rams got their revenge with a 4-0 shutout of the Jackrabbits.
Millikan’s London Perez winces as Long Beach Poly’s Kamelah Artiago gets off a blistering pass in Moore League action at Millikan High School in Long Beach on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly’s Lily Montecinos, left, and Millikan’s Ellie Carungcong go toe to toe in Moore League action at Millikan High School in Long Beach on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Millikan’s Elle Aoun, left, fights to keep a ball in bounds against Long Beach Poly’s Maired McGovern in Moore League action at Millikan High School in Long Beach on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Millikan sophomore Jayla Cortez (#23) scores the Rams’ first goal in a shutout over Long Beach Poly in Moore League action at Millikan High School in Long Beach on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Millikan’s Caoimhe Tighe is congratulated by teammates after the senior scored in the first half against Long Beach Poly in Moore League action at Millikan High School in Long Beach on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Millikan’s Sarah Thaut is congratulated by teammates after the junior scored against Long Beach Poly in Moore League action at Millikan High School in Long Beach on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Millikan head coach Tino Nunez directs play in girls soccer action against Poly at Millikan High School in Long Beach on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Millikan’s Jayla Cortes, second from left, is swarmed by teammates after the sophomore put the Rams up 1-0 in the first half against Long Beach Poly in Moore League action at Millikan High School in Long Beach on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly’s Rylee Zavala (#42) defends against a streaking Alyssa Carrillo of Millikan in Moore League action at Millikan High School in Long Beach on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Millikan junior goalkeeper Samantha Ortiz records a clean sheet in the Rams’ 4-0 win over Long Beach Poly in girls soccer action against Poly at Millikan High School in Long Beach on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Millikan’s Caoimhe Tighe celebrates after scoring in the first half against Long Beach Poly in Moore League action at Millikan High School in Long Beach on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Millikan’s Caoimhe Tighe takes a fall after being fouled by Long Beach Poly’s Rylee Zavala in Moore League action at Millikan High School in Long Beach on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Millikan senior Caoimhe Tighe dribbles past three Long Beach Poly defenders in Moore League action at Millikan High School in Long Beach on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Show Caption
1 of 13
Millikan’s London Perez winces as Long Beach Poly’s Kamelah Artiago gets off a blistering pass in Moore League action at Millikan High School in Long Beach on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Millikan (8-3-1, 6-0) poured all four goals on the Jackrabbits (2-5-1, 2-2-1) in the first half. It was their seventh shutout win of the season.
The Millikan scoring began with a beauty of a goal sparked by forward Jayla Cortes’ footwork. She evaded five Poly defenders and then beat goalkeeper Eylse Stegall.
“I was just thinking find the ball,” Cortes said. “Obviously, I got around the defenders and I found myself one on one with the goalie. I just thought in my head, ‘put it away in the goal, put it away in the goal,’ and thankfully it did.”
Senior Caoimhe Tighe followed with a goal seven minutes later, sending a volley into the right corner of the net.
“We lost last year,” said Tighe. “We had something to work for, and we finally got what we wanted. And we are not going to stop.”
In the final three minutes of the first half, Millikan sophomore Adelyn Murphy found the net in a scuffle that caused her to fall back as she shot the ball into the goal.
Junior Sarah Thuat made it 4-0 with a roller into the right corner of the net.
The Rams had a chance to score a fifth goal when the ball rolled to the feet of Alani Rodriguez, but the freshman sailed the ball past the top post.
Poly managed only four shots on goal, two of which came from forward Maired Mcgovern in the second half when the Jackrabbits recovered some momentum.
“We talked about having a strong start and the girls were ready to play tonight here at home,” said Millikan head coach Tino Nunez. “We wanted to make sure that what happened last year wouldn’t happen here again.”
Millikan is looking to regain the league title, which they won in 2023 and 2024.
“That would be nice, hopefully, the girls want it,” Nunez said. “We challenged them to put the work in. We talk about not only wanting to win but having quality with that effort.
“Job’s not done. We still got the second half of the season, but we’re definitely in a good spot.”
The Rams will face Orange Lutheran on Friday. Poly will host Compton on Thursday.