M. Soccer: Team suffers first conference loss

File Photo: Nathan Martin gave the Falcons an early lead against El Camino
File Photo: Nathan Martin gave the Falcons an early lead against El Camino

After going unbeaten in their first five South Coast Conference games, the Cerritos College men's soccer team suffered a 4-2 loss at the hands of host El Camino on Friday. The Falcons (4-6-3, 4-1-1) will travel to second place ECC Compton Center on Tuesday in a 4:00 p.m. conference match.

The first few minutes of the game went well for Cerritos, who took a quick 1-0 lead in the fourth minute. A crossing pass by freshman Ricardo Colin (Jefferson HS) to the left side of the box was on target to freshman Nathan Martin (Long Beach Millikan HS), who chipped the ball past Warriors (2-6-5, 1-1-4) goalkeeper Jake Grundman.

However, the lead lasted only five minutes, as El Camino tied the game on a free kick from Carlos Torres. On the Warriors second corner kick in a row, the Falcons were called for a foul, which set up the free kick. In the 32nd minute, the Warriors took the lead when Marcos Ambriz chipped a shot over sophomore goalkeeper Jaime Sanchez (Aspire Pacific Academy HS) and into the net.

It was 15 minutes between shot on goal attempts for the Falcons in the second half. After a shot on goal by freshman Ivan Vasquez (Fullerton HS), El Camino took over possession and turned that into what would be the game-winning goal in the 78th minute. Leaving the net to try and cover the ball, Sanchez left the net open and the Warriors Maniel Paz scored for a 3-1 Warriors lead.

Pushing everyone up to try and generate offense in the final 12 minutes, Cerritos was subjected to another goal in the 83rd minute. The Falcons did get the final tally of the game when Jonathan Monreal (Santa Fe HS) chipped a ball off a pass from Mark Sanchez (Westview, AZ HS) into the goal in the 87th minute.