Cabrillo boys soccer grabs share of Moore League crown

LONG BEACH >> Long Beach Cabrillo High School has won two Moore League championships since opening its doors in 1995, and they’re both from head coach Pat Noyes’ boys soccer program.

The No. 1 Jaguars (18-4-5, 8-2-1) clinched at least a share of the Moore League crown by limiting their own mistakes and taking advantage of Jordan’s in a 3-1 victory on Friday afteoon at Cabrillo.

Junior Bryan Moses bookended the Cabrillo win with two hustle goals.

Senior Nick Vazquez scored the equalizer for the Panthers (13-11-0, 7-4-0) early in the second half.

“I had seven starters coming back so I knew we’d be good,” said Noyes, the only boys soccer coach Cabrillo has had. His team hadn’t won the Moore League since 2004. Millikan has won the last eight league titles.

“The biggest difference with this team is that they have a belief in each other,” Noyes added. “No matter who is on the field they know everyone will contribute.”

Cabrillo looked like the top team in CIF Southe Section Division 2 all game long with its first six shots coming before Jordan put one on frame in the 24th minute.

Moses scored his first goal in the 13th minute with his left foot on the edge of the box thanks to a nice ball forward from senior captain Edgar Gonzalez.

“Jordan has done work here so we knew we had to start strong and get the first goal,” Gonzalez said.

The Jaguars outshot the Panthers 8-4 in the first half, 15-13 for the game, but only held the 1-0 lead at halftime. Jordan tied it in the 44th minute off of a quick restart by Freddie Figueroa who found Vazquez for the finish.

Cabrillo’s go-ahead goal came in the 55th minute when one of 21 fouls called on Jordan set up a dangerous set piece. Gonzalez chipped his service into the box from about 25 yards out and fellow senior Coby Castillo met it at the back post to head it toward the goal. Jordan goalkeeper Alessandro Martinez got a piece of it, but junior Darius Candler headed home the rebound.

Vazquez sparked a Jordan charge to try and equalize again, but Cabrillo played near-perfect defense down the stretch and Moses scored in the 77th minute on a counter attack to seal the victory.

“I’m very proud of the boys because we were very organized today,” Noyes said.

MILLIKAN 1, LAKEWOOD 0 >> A goal from sophomore Noel Moncada lifted the Rams (18-5-5, 8-3-1) into a tie for first place in the Moore League. They need Poly to beat Cabrillo on Wednesday in the regular-season finale to stay there and win a share of their ninth league crown.

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WILSON 3, POLY 2 >> The Bruins (12-9-2, 4-5-2) leapfrog the Jackrabbits in the league standings and a win at Lakewood on Wednesday will put Wilson into the CIF playoffs for the first time since 2009.

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