The Mater Dei soccer team celebrates with the CIF-SS Open Division boys soccer championship plaque in Long Beach on Friday, February 23, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, contributing photographer)
LONG BEACH – Mater Dei sophomore Aiden Romo arrived on campus 90 minutes before school started Friday for early morning soccer practice.
“I practiced using just my left foot for about an hour,” Romo said. “I didn't touch the ball with my right foot at all.”
On Friday night, preparation turned into an opportunity.
Romo, who is right-footed, scored a goal with his left foot to lead Mater Dei to a 1-0 victory over Arlington in the CIF Southern Open Division championship game at Veterans Stadium.
Mater Dei's Avian Gonzalez-Flores (right) celebrates with his teammates after winning the CIF-SS Open Division Boys Soccer Championship against Arlington on Friday, February 23, 2024, in Long Beach. (Photo credit Paul Rodriguez)
Mater Dei's Aiden Romo (right) celebrates after the Monarchs won the CIF-SS Open Division Boys Soccer Championship against Arlington on Friday, February 23, 2024, in Long Beach. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, contributing photographer)
The Mater Dei soccer team poses with the CIF-SS Open Division Boys Soccer Championship shield in Long Beach on Friday, February 23, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei's Brayden McClelland dives to block Arlington's shot during the CIF-SS Open Division Boys Soccer Championship in Long Beach, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, contributing photographer)
Mater Dei's Diego Chavarria (right) ties with Arlington's Javier Hernandez during the CIF-SS Open Division Boys Soccer Championship on Friday, February 23, 2024 in Long Beach. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, contributing photographer)
Mater Dei's Aiden Romo celebrates a goal against Arlington in the CIF-SS Open Division Boys Soccer Championship in Long Beach on Friday, February 23, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
An Arlington player sits alone on the field after Mater Dei won the CIF-SS Open Division Boys Soccer Championship in Long Beach on Friday, February 23, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) )
The Mater Dei soccer team celebrates with the CIF-SS Open Division boys soccer championship plaque in Long Beach on Friday, February 23, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, contributing photographer)
Mater Dei's Jake Barak (left) and Mater Dei begin celebrating after the Monarchs won the CIF-SS Open Division Boys Soccer Championship against Arlington on Friday, February 23, 2024 in Long Beach. Aiden Romo (right) (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei's Michael Celico (left) and Arlington's Jesus Palma (right) attempt to head the ball during the CIF-SS Open Division Boys Soccer Championship in Long Beach on Friday, February 23, 2024 (photo) (Courtesy of Paul Rodriguez, contributing photographer)
Arlington's Jacob Arellano (left) heads the ball in front of Mater Dei's CJ Garcia during the CIF-SS Open Division Boys Soccer Championship on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, in Long Beach. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, contributing photographer)
Mater Dei's Jake Barak, left, and Arlington's Jacob Edgar jump to head the ball during the CIF-SS Open Division Boys Soccer Championship in Long Beach, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. Photo by Paul Rodriguez, contributing photographer)
Mater Dei's Brayden McClelland reacts after the Monarchs deny Arlington an opportunity in the CIF-SS Open Division Boys Soccer Championship in Long Beach on Friday, February 23, 2024 (Photo (Courtesy of Paul Rodriguez, contributing photographer)
Arlington's Adrian Mendoza reaches to deflect a shot from Mater Dei during the CIF-SS Open Division Boys Soccer Championship on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, in Long Beach. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, contributing photographer)
Romo's blast from 20 yards out in the 47th minute gave Mater Dei its first CIF-SS boys soccer championship since 2001 and seventh overall.
Arlington entered the game with a 25-0 record and outscored opponents 115-6.
Mater Dei (20-2-1) and Riverside Public School Arlington will continue their season in the CIF Southern California Regional Playoffs next week. Regional slots will be announced on Sunday.
In the first half, both teams had a strong defense, so there were not many scoring opportunities.
Mater Dei senior Jake Barak thought they only needed one goal to win the game.
“We knew before halftime that we needed one chance to end the game,” Barak said. “And we understood that and knew it was going to end.”
Monarchs senior goaltender Brayden McClelland made a number of difficult saves. Perhaps his two biggest incidents occurred late in the second half, when he had two diving stops within 80 seconds of each other.
Mater Dei coach Sean Gainey praised Arlington's good play.
“There's a reason they were 25-0,” Gainey said. “Their whole team is very good. They are good kids who didn't give up until the end.”
All of the Mater Dei players contributed defensively, whether it was a tackle here or a defensive header there.
“We're talking to the kids about what it's like to win a game like this,” Gainey said. “What are the actions needed to do that? And a lot of that is defensive work, work that doesn't bring glamor, work that no one quantifies, no one gives data to.”
Romo said he wasn't aiming for the shot with his left foot, which gave him his team-leading 22nd goal of the season.
“I’m going to hit it as hard as I can and hope it goes in,” he said.
Mater Dei senior Michael Czerico said the win was a relief, as the team had lost in the first round of the playoffs the past two seasons.
“We've been through a lot of heartbreak,” said Celico, who scored 21 goals. “Last year and the year before. I'm really happy that we were able to win and build on that brotherly bond that we've built throughout the season.”
