M. Soccer: Win clinches division title for Falcons

The Cerritos men's soccer team clinches division title with 3-2 win
The Cerritos men's soccer team clinches division title with 3-2 win

Inspired by their desire to clinch the South Coast Conference South Division title as a dedication to the absence of head coach Benny Artiaga, the Cerritos College men's soccer team did just that on Friday. The Falcons dedicated their 3-2 win over host El Camino College to Artiaga, who missed the game due to back surgery. With the victory, the team will now wait until Tuesday to find out where they will be seeded for the upcoming Southern California Regional Playoffs.

The inspiration showed itself at the outset of the game, as Cerritos scored twice in the first four minutes of the game. Freshman Oscar Canela (Paramount HS) picked up both goals, the first in the second minute, and then two minutes later, with sophomore Austin De Medeiros (Gahr HS) and freshman Luis Garcia (La Habra HS) picking up the assists.

Late in the first half, Garcia gave the Falcons a 3-0 lead, as Canela fed him a pass and he gave the team a commanding lead. Before the first half whistle, the Warriors got on the board and then continued their comeback with a goal in the 69th minute. But that would be all the offense on the day, as sophomore goalkeeper Ivan Martin Del Campo (Granada Hills Kennedy HS) turned away five shots in the win.