Millikan Girls' Soccer Advances to CIF Quarterfinals with Gritty Win

Rams defeat St. Genevieve 1-0 despite sloppy play and officiating issues

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The Millikan High School girls' soccer team defeated St. Genevieve 1-0 in the second round of the 2026 CIF-SS Division 2 playoffs, advancing to the quarterfinals despite an uncharacteristically disjointed and contentious match marred by officiating problems. Junior Furby Rios scored the game's lone goal in the 50th minute, while the Millikan defense recorded their eighth consecutive clean sheet.

Why it matters

The win keeps Millikan's playoff run alive as they seek to capture the CIF-SS Division 2 championship. However, the game highlighted ongoing issues with officiating and fan behavior at high school sporting events, which can detract from the competition on the field.

The details

Millikan dominated possession and chances in the first half, putting 12 shots on goal, but were unable to find the breakthrough against St. Genevieve's sophomore goalkeeper Gianna Williamson. The Rams were whistled offside seven times in the match. Rios finally put Millikan ahead in the 50th minute, heading in a corner kick that deflected off a defender and the goalkeeper. The game was marred by 19 fouls called on Millikan and 14 on St. Genevieve, along with nine yellow cards and one red card issued. A fan incident also led to a stoppage in play as officials threatened to eject all visiting fans.

  • The match was played on Saturday, February 15, 2026.
  • Millikan will host Warren High in the CIF quarterfinals on Wednesday, February 19, 2026.

The players

Millikan Rams

The high school girls' soccer team from Millikan High School in Long Beach, California.

St. Genevieve Valiants

The high school girls' soccer team from St. Genevieve High School.

Furby Rios

A junior forward for the Millikan Rams who scored the game-winning goal.

Gianna Williamson

The sophomore goalkeeper for the St. Genevieve Valiants who made seven saves in the match.

Kimberly Calderon

A St. Genevieve player who was issued a red card in the first half, forcing the Valiants to play the entire second half with 10 players.

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What they’re saying

“I think it's just one of those where we found a way. And sometimes it's not the prettiest, sometimes it's not like yourself.”

— Tino Nunez, Millikan Head Coach (the562.org)

“It's kind of hard to balance my mindset as well as trying to balance the whole team's mindset. So to me, I just want to keep going at it and at it, but I have to try to remember that as a team, we need to relax and play our game. When we play our game, that's when we're the best.”

— Furby Rios, Millikan Junior Forward (the562.org)

What’s next

Millikan will host Warren High in the CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinals on Wednesday, February 19, 2026.

The takeaway

While Millikan secured a hard-fought victory to advance in the playoffs, the game highlighted ongoing issues with officiating and fan behavior at high school sporting events. These problems can detract from the competition and sportsmanship that should be the focus. As the playoffs continue, there will be increased scrutiny on how these issues are addressed to ensure a positive experience for the players, coaches, and fans.