Posted: Sep 02, 2012
Each year, the Cerritos College men's soccer team competes in the Hartnell Tournament, which generally attracts some of the best teams in the state. This year was no exception, as the tournament featured six out of the top 15 ranked teams in the country including the host Panthers who reached the state championships last year, and San Francisco City College, who was a final four team. The Falcons opened with a pair of convincing wins, 4-1 over American River College and 5-0 over Fresno City College. That sent them to the championship game, where they fell, 3-1 to San Francisco City College. Cerritos (3-1-0) will now host Golden West College on Thursday at 4:00 p.m. in their home opener.
Against American River, the team jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first half, with sophomore midfielder Oscar Enriquez (Cabrillo HS) opening the scoring in the third minute of the game, with sophomore midfielder Gerardo Soto (Salesian HS) earning the assist. Not long after, freshman forward Jose Rivera (Torrance HS) received a nice pass from freshman defender Jeffrey Payeras (Animo HS) for a 2-0 advantage. Before the end of the first half, freshman Nicholas Escalante (California HS) would score in the 30th minute, while he earned the assist on the goal by freshman Carlos Rosales (Manual Arts HS).
Freshman goalkeepers Brett Hughes (Long Beach Wilson HS) and Benito Gonzalez (Long Beach Wilson HS) combined to hold off the Beavers, with Gonzalez allowing the goal and recording four saves. Hughes played the entire game against Fresno City and earned the shutout by making three saves.
Offensively, Soto scored once and assisted on two others, while Enriquez, Rivera, freshman Thiago Lusardi (Centro Educational Ramos, Brazil HS), freshman Ludwing Vargas (Salesian HS) and freshman Rudy Montoya (Bell HS) also scored goals.
In the championship game, the Falcons dominated the first half and led 1-0 after Payeros scored with Escalante picking up the assist. Cerritos outshot the Rams, 8-1 and appeared the be in control of the contest. But in the first minute of the second half, San Francisco City was awarded a controversial penalty kick, which seemed to throw off the Falcons the remainder of the game, as they added two more goals before the final whistle.
Against American River, the team jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first half, with sophomore midfielder Oscar Enriquez (Cabrillo HS) opening the scoring in the third minute of the game, with sophomore midfielder Gerardo Soto (Salesian HS) earning the assist. Not long after, freshman forward Jose Rivera (Torrance HS) received a nice pass from freshman defender Jeffrey Payeras (Animo HS) for a 2-0 advantage. Before the end of the first half, freshman Nicholas Escalante (California HS) would score in the 30th minute, while he earned the assist on the goal by freshman Carlos Rosales (Manual Arts HS).
Freshman goalkeepers Brett Hughes (Long Beach Wilson HS) and Benito Gonzalez (Long Beach Wilson HS) combined to hold off the Beavers, with Gonzalez allowing the goal and recording four saves. Hughes played the entire game against Fresno City and earned the shutout by making three saves.
Offensively, Soto scored once and assisted on two others, while Enriquez, Rivera, freshman Thiago Lusardi (Centro Educational Ramos, Brazil HS), freshman Ludwing Vargas (Salesian HS) and freshman Rudy Montoya (Bell HS) also scored goals.
In the championship game, the Falcons dominated the first half and led 1-0 after Payeros scored with Escalante picking up the assist. Cerritos outshot the Rams, 8-1 and appeared the be in control of the contest. But in the first minute of the second half, San Francisco City was awarded a controversial penalty kick, which seemed to throw off the Falcons the remainder of the game, as they added two more goals before the final whistle.
