The Warren High School girls soccer team celebrates after its 2-1 victory over Thousand Oaks in the CIF D2 championship game on Saturday, March 1. (Courtesy photo)

History was made by the Warren High School soccer program, Saturday March 1, as both the boys and girls soccer teams won CIF-Southern Section Championships.

Not only did they each win a title on the same day at Long Beach Veterans Stadium, but the two teams played back-to-back.

The boys shut out Anaheim in D3, 3-0, for their second championship in school history which was followed by the girls defeating Thousand Oaks in D2, 2-1, for their first title in school history.

They each made a run in the state playoffs, with the boys losing in the CIF Southern California Regional semifinal and the girls falling in the Regional Championship game.

“It’s very exciting,” said boys co-coach Karlo Soto-Castillo of the second title. “It’s been a while since 2013, when we won our first one.

“I was overjoyed by this 2025 CIF championship, which was very similar to the 2013 championship. Both championships have affirmed that when you trust in your higher self, honoring your mind, body and spirit while working hard, staying humble and staying hungry, success will come.”

Both programs were honored Tuesday (March 11) at the monthly meeting of the Downey Unified School District, as girls coach Lily Dussan and boys co-coach Soto-Castillo highlighted their seasons to the overflow crowd of parents and friends.

The DUSD superintendent, Dr. John Garcia, congratulated both teams on their monumental accomplishment.

As freshmen four years ago, both the girls and boys team came into the program with high expectations, and they came through with great runs in the post season. The girls had 12 seniors, while the boys had 14 seniors.

Highlighting the season for the girls was championships in two tournaments – The Best in the West and Orange County Winter Classic.

Along with the CIF Division 2 title, it was the first time a Warren team has ever advanced to the State Regional Finals.

“This championship-winning squad has been building toward greatness for four years,” said Dussan, who has been in the program for 11 years as head coach and 15 overall.

“From the moment they stepped onto the field as freshmen, their coaches saw something special. This is the team. This is the team that will make history and leave a legacy. And they did just that setting a new standard for Warren girls soccer.

“As the final whistle blew on their remarkable season, the Bears didn’t just bring home trophies, they solidified their legacy as one of the greatest teams in school history.”

For the boys, it was the second CIF Championship, as they captured their first title in 2013.

In both championships Soto-Castillo and Miguel Pena were also the teams co-coaches.

The girls recorded a very impressive record of 21 wins, four losses and three ties and scored 49 goals.

Even more impressive was the 11 shutouts, led by sophomore goalkeeper Rin Soto, who recorded 86 saves. Three of those shutouts came in the playoffs.

Soto is the daughter of boys coach Karlo Soto-Castillo and her father couldn’t be any more proud.

Warren High School boys co-coach Karlo Soto-Castillo and his daughter, Rin Soto, who was the starting goalie for the girls team. (Photo courtesy Rosemarie Soto)

“She was a key player in the success of the girls CIF championship,” beamed Soto-Castillo. “Watching her reap the reward of her hard work has been an amazing experience.”

Leading the way in the eight playoff games was senior forward Alexis Delgado with four goals, while junior midfielder Allison Bravo had three.

After an opening game loss, the Bears reeled off 11 consecutive games without a loss (2 ties), but ended the season winning 12 of 13 games before the Regional Final loss.

Highlighting the five wins in the CIF-Southern Section D2 was an opening 2-1 win over Vista Murrieta, with goals from senior midfielder Aubrey Camacho and junior defenseman Helen Soriano.

In round two, Soto recorded the first of her three playoff shutouts and senior midfielder Alexa Martinez scored the lone goal over Oak Hills.

In the quarterfinals, the second blanking (2-0) came over El Rancho by Soto, with goals recorded by Bravo and Delgado.

Drama unfolded in the semifinals, which ended in a 1-1 tie and 5-4 penalty kick victory over Mira Costa, as Soto made the winning save. The win came after both teams remained tied heading into the PKs.

Scoring the lone goal for Warren was Delgado.

The 2-1 championship win over Thousand Oaks came with goals from senior midfielder Mayilen Salazar and Bravo.

In the first So Cal Regional 1-0 win over La Costa Canyon of Carlsbad, Soto recorded her third shutout in the playoffs, with Camacho scoring the lone goal.

The Bears continued their winning streak, which reached nine games with the 3-2 Regional semifinal win over St. Joseph of Santa Maria. Delgado scored twice and Bravo had one for the Bears to send them to the first ever CIF Regional final.

Unfortunately, the winning streak and goal-scoring streak stopped there, as Patrick Henry of San Diego shutout Warren, 5-0.

The girls co-coach is Marcos Garcia, who is in his second year with the program, along with assistants Jazlyn Arevalo, Jessika Perez and Monique Cervantes.

Juan Hernandez is the athletic trainer for both teams.

“I just think it’s really a special year for us (boys and girls), for Warren and our community,” Dussan said. “It was extra special to win it with the boys and bringing our community members together.”

Boys begin a second title chase

The second title chase by the boys started out almost the same early in the season as the 2013 team.

It was a rough start to this season, but they ended up with a 20-9-3 record.

This years’ team started out the season without a win in the first seven games with two ties, but ended the season with 13 wins and only one loss before the final regional loss.

“It was a very similar fashion when the season didn’t start off the best way in the 2013 season when we also won a CIF title,” said Soto-Castillo, of the familiar way this season started.

“But, as the saying goes, ‘smooth waters never made strong sailors.”

However, those last double-digit wins led to a great finish for the Bears, which ended with another championship and a state regional appearance in the semifinals.

“The 2023-2024 season was tough,” Soto-Castillo said. “Our ‘winter’, despite hard work and staying grounded, we faltered, losing in the first round of playoffs to a team we knew we could beat.

Everything changed this year in the playoffs for the Bears.

They were led by six goals from senior forward Ezequiel Santana and four PKs by sophomore defender Diego Montes in the CIF D3 playoffs.

“It’s amazing to get a shutout in the championship,” Montes said. “It just shows the type of focus we had on the other team.

“Honestly, I was very surprised that both girls and boys won. Have you ever heard of both boys and girls winning it at the same time. I do feel amazing right now.”

Warren faced tough opponents, including a dramatic 3-3 draw with Fountain Valley, before winning on PKs with the double overtime, 4-3 win in the opening game.

Montes scored two PKs in the game along with a goal from sophomore defender Adrian Soto Diaz.

Warren easily beat Banning in the second round with a 5-0 shutout on goals from five different players. Scoring single goals were Montes, senior midfielder Nicolas De Leon, junior defender George Reyes, junior midfielder Alexander Berrelleza, and Santana.

In the quarterfinal game against Beaumont, the Bears trailed at the half, 1-0 but had a second half comeback with goals from senior midfielder Dylan Sears and Santana to win, 2-1.

Warren High School’s boys soccer team celebrates its CIF D3 championship outside Downey Unified School District headquarters. (Photo by John M. Sherrard)

“That comeback showed how strong our spirit was,” Soto-Castillo said. “Each game brought us closer together, and by the semifinals, we were a force to be reckoned with.”

Anaheim faced that force in the semi’s and Santana came through with a pair of goals and a goal from Berrelleza to win, 3-1 to advance into the championship game.

Santana opened the title game with a goal midway through the first half on a header.

“When I saw the ball in the air, I knew I had to head it in,” said Santana, of the high kick from sophomore midfielder Joan Ramirez. “The goalkeeper just happened to miss the ball and I was able to react to it and put it in. Having bad positioning affected him.

“Getting that first goal was definitely big for us and getting that momentum. That was definitely one of my biggest goals, especially in the finals.”

Montes then added his fourth PK of the playoffs later in the half to lead, 2-0, and Santana finished it off in the second half with his second of the game.

“That goal definitely sealed the whole thing,” Santana added.

Of the double wins by both teams, Santana said, “Being able to watch both programs win is definitely nice.”

Soto-Castillo said of the win: “The game was intense, but at halftime, I reminded the boys to check their egos and focus on the game. They responded with determination, defending fiercely and ultimately securing a 3-0 victory.

“The win wasn’t just about the trophy; it was the culmination of overcoming personal and team challenges. The real victory was in the growth we experienced together. As we celebrated, we ended by gathering in gratitude, as we always do. The title was a testament to the power of resilience, integrity, and faith.”

Assisting Soto-Castillo and Pena this season was Omar Lopez and Victor Silva.

What they said

Warren Girls Soccer

Girls coach Lily Dussan: “I’d say that these girls played with a lot of heart, a lot of fight. That’s what got us that title.”

Aubrey Camacho, senior midfielder: “It feels so amazing to grow with these girls for four years, and to end it with this win, was very nice to feel it. It goes to show how hard we worked for four years. It was well deserved and well earned.

“Coach Lily has put her blood, sweat and tears into this program for 11 years and finally she got her CIF win.”

Hailey Hernandez-Repreza, senior defender: “It’s crazy to even think about the boys and girls winning at the same time.

“It means a lot to go out on a win like this. For four years we had one goal – to win CIF.

“We were able to accomplish it. We’ve always been known as the team to do something especially after losing in the semifinals last year on PKs.”

Alexa Manjarrez Belarde, senior captain, midfielder: “Throughout the season I couldn’t have asked for a better team. I’m extremely grateful to be called the captain of this team. CIF (championship) was a hell of a run, and it was an amazing life experience to go with these girls. I really hope that they get to experience it all over again.”

Mayilen Salazar, senior midfielder: “The CIF finals was honestly, the best thing. It was also a historical thing and I’m just proud of my girls.

“This is obviously a talented team, and we couldn’t have done it without our coaches. With us having heart on the field and going out there and pushing every round was the best.”

Alexis Delgado, senior forward: “Man, it was amazing to win that CIF Championship for the first time in school history. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end my senior year.

“Last year we lost in the semifinals and got a taste of it and that’s what motivated us this year.”

Warren Boys Soccer

Co-coach Miguel Pena: “I could already feel it about this team as freshmen. This team was going to something big. I knew there was something special. I told the parents when they become seniors, they’re going to do something special.

In the warmup, in my eyes, the other team wasn’t ready for us. I was just waiting for that first goal. Once that first goal came in, it was all us.”

Anthony Ortiz, senior goalkeeper: “It (championship) felt good. It was a big accomplishment. I’d like to shout out defender Diego (Montes) and Christian (Alvarez). They’re my two center backs. Their moral and passion to play and always getting the balls out is huge.”

Daniel Jimenez, junior goalkeeper: “I was excited and the whole team wanted it.

It’s (championship) exciting and we (girls and boys) both made history. I feel amazing.”

Christian Alvarez, senior defender: “It’s all I can ask for is to win a championship. Coach Miguel has helped me all four years and he’s always been someone I could talk to. Coach Karlo has always been motivated and helps me get through.

Warren High makes history with soccer championships