Young talent on display in Bishop Amat’s draw with St. Genevieve

LA PUENTE — The young talent on display during Bishop Amat’s 2-2 draw with St. Genevieve on Tuesday showed why these two squads are going to battle for years to come.

At one point, Bishop Amat had seven freshmen on the field, but it was St. Genevieve freshman midfielder Mia Rizzo, who is in the U.S. National Team Under-15 player pool, that provided the biggest impact.

St. Genevieve freshman Mia Rizo scored both goals in their 2-2 tie with Bishop Amat. She is in the U.S. National team U15 player pool and pushed her season total to 15 goals. pic.twitter.com/ykBb6CzYlB

— Fred J. Robledo (@SGVNSports) January 14, 2026

After her team fell behind 2-0, Rizo scored two terrific goals. One goal came on a corner kick in the 25th minute, and then she scored the goal of the match, a right-footed banger off the roof in the 50th minute that leveled the match.

“After the first goal we were ready, we were hyped,” Rizo said. “That motivated us in the second half. Coaches gave us a pep talk.”

St. Genevieve coach Marlon Archey was not surprised by the effort from Rizo, who raised her goals scored total to 15 this season.

“She’s special,” Archey said of Rizo. “Sometimes you run across special players and she’s one of them as a ninth grader. Each game she’s getting better, and I’m really proud of her. The team played extremely hard and anytime you play Amat it’s a battle and people come out to see it.”

Bishop Amat (12-3-4, 2-0-2) remains in first place in the Del Rey League with St. Genevieve (11-2-1, 2-1-1) not far back.

Amat, which is No. 13 in the latest CIF Southern Section computer rankings that will help decide playoff divisions, came out strong.

The Lancers took a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute when Vanessa Perez’s chip pass found freshman Sofia Powell running free down the right side. Powell darted toward the goal and finished off the left post.

Not long after, Bishop Amat’s Bella Casas was fouled in the box in the 20th minute, leading to a penalty kick. Amat defender Mya Partida stepped up and buried it, giving the Lancers a 2-0 lead.

But Partida, one of the few seniors on a team that has 11 freshmen, knew the Valiants are dangerous. In addition to Rizo, the Valiants have a midfielder, Danila Alonzo, who plays for the El Salvadoran national team, and forward Angelinne Mazariegos causes havoc throughout.

“St. Genevieve has always been a top competitor against us,” Partida said. “(Mazariegos and Alonzo) kept the pressure on us hard. We were able to handle them well. They got a couple good goals, good (finishes), but I’m proud of us. We’ve got a young team with a young backline.”

Bishop Amat defender Mya Partida scored a penalty kick and talked about the competitive 2-2 draw with St. Genevieve. pic.twitter.com/aeJevK0E3T

— Fred J. Robledo (@SGVNSports) January 14, 2026

Partida said the quick start was key.

“We talked about wanting to start with high energy, so I’m proud we put those two goals away,” Partida said. “It’s been really great to see the freshman class come in and make a really big impact. I’ve created special bonds with them.”

Bishop Amat coach Steve Jimenez thought his team relaxed a bit after scoring two early goals.

“A lot of credit to them, they have a phenomenal squad on that side,” Jimenez said of St. Genevieve. “We knew it was going to be a fistfight, and that it would go back and forth. But we got the early goals, and we kind of took our foot off the gas pedal and let them come back into the game off that corner kick in the first half. And then we kind of settled in, and settled for the draw in my opinion. We couldn’t get it going after those two goals.”

Jimenez knows there will be growing pains with a young team.

“We know and understand we’re going to have those bumps and bruises of having so many freshmen on the squad,” Jimenez said. “At one point we had seven freshmen on the field. We understand that’s the obstacle we’re going to have. But big time players step up on big time occasions and that’s what we expect these girls to do.”

Bishop Amat coach Steve Jimenez thought they took their foot off the gas, resulting in a 2-2 draw with St. Genevieve. Amat is 12-3-4 and ranked No. 13 in the CIF-SS. pic.twitter.com/5ec05e7Qkw

— Fred J. Robledo (@SGVNSports) January 14, 2026

St. Genevieve coach Marlon Archey praised his after rallying from 2-0 down to earn a 2-2 draw with Bishop Amat pic.twitter.com/pbT8DDJ40f

— Fred J. Robledo (@SGVNSports) January 14, 2026