Monday, November 10, 2025
Long Beach boys’ soccer may be dampened after a 3-0 defeat to powerhouse Calhoun last Saturday, which snapped an eight-game unbeaten streak for the Marines going back to Sept. 9.
But with a 7-2-2 record and stellar all-around play in most games, coach Leo Palacio said that there is plenty to look back on favorably and even more to build on moving forward.
“I'm telling you, we’re surprising ourselves,” Palacio said. “We’re learning a lot and then we're putting all that knowledge into our games, and it's paying off.”
After a 2-0 loss to MacArthur in Long Beach’s second game, the Marines won six and drew another two to establish themselves as a firm contender in Conference AA1. On Sept. 12, they held Calhoun to a 0-0 draw and remain the only ones to do so. The Colts are now 10-0-1.
Long Beach’s rematch against Calhoun was not as fortuitous, but the loss does not end things just yet. Palacios said that a playoff run feels likely, as this year’s Marines have shown him flashes of brilliance.
In a game against Roslyn on Sept. 30, Palacios watched on as four different Marines scored while goalkeeper Vance Kanganis earned his sixth shutout in a commanding 5-0 victory.
“The Roslyn game was probably the best game I’ve ever seen a team play,” Palacio said. “We played exceptionally well. We didn't give up any goals and then we were producing. We were touching the ball all over the field. Even the other coach asked me if I got new players since the last game.”
As it has all season, Long Beach’s offense ran through seniors Ryder Heitefuss and Nick Amantea in the Roslyn game. Amantea, the physical attacker of the pair, leads Long Beach with 11 goals, while Heitefuss, his more elusive counterpart, has slipped through opposing defenses for nine of his own.
With two outstanding and reputable scorers, Palacio said that several opponents will mark them on defense in the final games in a concerted effort to limit their opportunities. As a result, the coach is looking for others, like Dom Mendoza to step up on the outside. The junior has scored six goals as a secondary outlet on offense, but he could soon get more chances.
Palacio also made a recent change to honor Dunia Sibomana’s role as Long Beach’s most unlikely contributor on defense. The Congolese senior, also a standout wrestler bound for the University of North Carolina, traveled to the United States at a young age in order to receive facial reconstruction surgery after a chimpanzee attack in his home country.
In order to reward Sibomana for his perseverance, Palacio has brought Long Beach’s No. 10 jersey out of retirement and given it to him. The jersey was previously worn by Dylan Palacio, the coach’s son who won a wrestling state championship in 2012 before wrestling and playing soccer at Cornell.
With four games remaining before playoffs, Long Beach has plenty of time to regain its stride. Before the Marines can begin to think about taking one last shot at Calhoun and other contenders in the county, they must first complete their schedule in strong form. Palacio believes that the late-season surge can be kickstarted by anyone.
