The Long Beach Poly High School girls team is going from strength to strength in the Southern California Girls Open 7s Division.

Most of the group has been playing together since they were in the Belmont Shore Under 10s team, and how they play as a unit continues to owe a debt to that beginning.

A combination of these players plus a few newer ones has produced a team that is 5-1 on the season, having lost only to Fallbrook. Defensively they are superb.

Led by Sydney-Rae Pua, Sariah Ibarra, and Klhalea Pahulu, LB Poly has the skills to move the ball wide and stay tight and strong on defense.

"They're able to cut the space with their line speed," said Head Coach Robert Pahulu, adding that those three players are "great leaders on the pitcj."

New to the game are talents such as Jendell Moe and Shyann Lutali.

"They're strong and athletic, can move alongside the veteran players very well, and are fast, aggressive, and tough in the tackles," said Pahulu.

On Week 1 of competition LB Poly beat Tesoro 22-5, lost to Fallbrook 24-12, and then defeated Torrey Pines 26-19, with most of the points allowed due to newer players giving up penalties around the breakdown. A week later their improvement in discipline and defense showed as they shut out Tesoro 42-0, San Marcos 45-0, and Torrey Pines 52-0.

This week it's Tesoro, San Marcos, and Torrey Pines again, as LB Poly looks to chase a championship.