All season long we’ve been talking about the experienced ranks at Millikan.  With eight returning seniors, how could we not write that story?  But inside the coach’s office last fall, head coach Rod Petkovic was worried about, of all things, experience.

“We lost everyone on defense,” said Petkovic at practice on Thursday.  “The only one returning was (Manuel) Estrada, and he was our left halfback last year… He’s a great player, and I knew he’d do well at sweeper, but it’s still a new position… I was most nervous about our defense, but that group has really responded to the challenge.”

That might be the understatement of the year so far, as the Ram defense has posted 19 shutouts this season, a school record.  As everyone knows, it all starts with the man in goal, and to look at goalie Jorge Becerra you wouldn’t guess he’s the captain of one of the best defensive units in Millikan history.

The quiet junior stands at just 5’9” and might be 130lbs if he were dripping wet.  He doesn’t yell a lot on the field like some keepers, and he won’t knock over too many guys when he punches the ball out, but what he lacks in size he makes up in athletic ability.  Ability he learned to hone outside of the 18-yard box.

As a young soccer player at Hughes Middle School and club LB Supreme, Becerra shined as a star striker.  “I was scoring a lot and, I don’t know, I guess I was looking for another challenge,” says Becerra.  “My Dad bought me some (goalie) gloves just for fun when I was like eleven.  We went out to the backyard, and, you know…” Becerra has been in goal ever since.

Even though he’s not the vocal keeper you see a lot in youth soccer, Becerra and his sweeper Estrada know what each other is doing.  “We talk a lot before the game, and I just get his style.  (Estrada) is aggressive, and I like that… he won’t let his man disappear.”

That unspoken understanding in the backline is a testament to the athletes, but also to what could be the most experienced coaching staff in Long Beach.

Led by Petkovic and his 27 years on the job, Becerra, Estrada and the Rams can turn to any number of veterans and Millikan alumni on the sideline like Gabriel Tostado.  The 82-year old goalkeeper coach has been with Petkovic for 25 years, and along with assistant Juan Rodriguez, they’ve taken young Becerra under their care.  “I played JV last year as a sophomore, and now at varsity… You have to listen to these coaches.  They know what they’re doing, I mean, they’ve been through everything.  Coach Pek has been to the semis, the finals, and lost in the first round.  We get better every day in practice.”

At those Millikan practices, one might be shocked at the sheer amount of bodies on the sidelines.  Coach Petkovic has surrounded himself with vets like Tostado and 67-year old Jon Stroosma, as well as former Millikan players like Ramon Garcia, Vincente Caparelli, and David Evans.  Even at the lower level, coaches David Poerschke, Juan Bello and Edgar Mendoza represent one of the biggest Junior Varsity/FroshSoph coaching staffs in the area, and are celebrating their 17^th Moore League title this year.

“These are guys donating their time,” says Petkovic.  “And I’ll never say no to help.”