With their last game 11 days ago, it may have been the long break that hampered the early play of the Cerritos College men's soccer team in their 3-1 loss to host Taft College on Tuesday. The Falcons (4-2-1) hadn't played since September 13 when they defeated Golden West College, and the break between games seemed to have taken its toll. Cerritos will now get a week off until they open South Coast Conference play against host Los Angeles Harbor College at 3:00 p.m.
The Cougars (4-3) opened the scoring in the 30th minute against a Cerritos team that was playing without several of their starters. Freshman goalkeeper Thomas Yeandle (Orange Lutheran HS) made a couple of good saves, but could not keep the ball out of the net, The tempo of the game switched back and forth with the Falcons and Taft each getting good scoring opportunities.
Momentum switched back in favor of the Cougars when they took a 2-0 lead in the 59th goal when they beat sophomore goalkeeper Benito Gonzalez (Long Beach Wilson HS). The Falcons cut their deficit in half in the 76th minute when freshman midfielder Juan Ramirez (John Glenn HS) sent a crossing pass toward the goal. Freshman midfielder Juan Ochoa (Paramount HS) headed the ball, which deflected off the Taft goalkeeper. Ochoa controlled the rebound and put it away.
Taft didn't let up on their pressure and ended up scoring during extra time when Gonzalez was called for a penalty kick on a breakaway.