M. Soccer: Scoring machine keeps churning for Falcons

File Photo: Cerritos celebrates another win
File Photo: Cerritos celebrates another win

The scoring machine that is Armando Ibarra, Jr. (Downey HS) accounted for three more goals on Friday to lead the Cerritos College men's soccer team to a 4-0 South Coast Conference win at Compton College. With his 13 goals, Ibarra, Jr. is now tied for the state lead in goals with 13, and has accounted for seven goals in the last three games. The Falcons (8-2-1, 2-0-0) will host Los Angeles Harbor College (6-6-1, 0-2-0) at 2:00 p.m. next Tuesday. The Seahawks' Fernando Alejo shares the state lead in goals with Ibarra, Jr.

"The boys came out poised in the first half and played well," stated head coach Benny Artiaga. "We got a little out of rhythm making substitutions to end the half, but Armando created a PK by pressuring the center back and was clipped from behind."

The converted penalty kick in the 21st minute was the lone goal scored by the Falcons, who came out and added three more in the second half. The second goal of the game for Ibarra, Jr. came on a beautiful bicycle kick after Ernesto Vergara (Salesian HS) lifted the ball in the perfect spot. In the 75th minute, just eight minutes after the beautiful goal, Ibarra, Jr. completed the natural hat trick with a perfectly placed ball on a precision pass by Edwin Rodriguez (Jefferson HS).

"In the second half, we were absolutely awesome and took complete control," added Artiaga. Complimenting the play on offense for Cerritos was freshman goalkeeper Alex Ledesma (Bellflower HS) who Artiaga said, "was great in goal. He made a point-blank save in the second half that secured the shutout."

In the finish few minutes of the game, the Falcons added a fourth goal, with Samuel Romero (Don Lugo HS) chipping in a shot on a thru-pass from Rodriguez.