After helping lead the Cerritos College men's soccer team to the CCCAA State Championship, four players have announced their signing with four-year universities. Sophomores Jose Ochoa (Loyola Marymount University), Ricardo Covarrubias (Cal State Fullerton) and Mario Guerrero (Cal State University, Bakersfield), along with freshman Connor Johnson (Loyola Marymount University) are the first of the Falcons who have made their decisions.

Johnson, who was a red-shirt at UC Irvine before transferring to Cerritos, will have three seasons to play at Loyola Marymount. The State Championship Most Valuable Player states that deciding on the Lions was not a difficult decision.

"They recruited me out of high school, so I already knew their coaching staff and system," said Johnson, who scored all three goals in the Falcons 3-1 win over rival Mt. San Antonio College in the state championship game and finished with seven goals on the year. "I had good chemistry with their staff when I first met them, so I was leaning toward them from the minute I decided to leave Irvine."

Joining Johnson as a teammate at Loyola Marymount will be Ochoa, who was named 1st Team All-South Coast Conference and had four goals and four assists for the Falcons this season. He will come in as a forward, with Johnson playing center-midfield.

"I always wanted to go to a private school and Loyola Marymount is a very good school with a very good soccer program," said Ochoa, who also had offers from Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Los Angeles, Cal State Bakersfield and the University of San Francisco.

"What we did here at Cerritos was a dream come true," Ochoa added. "I will always remember my time with Cerritos and these last two seasons have been amazing. I made some great friends for life and we accomplished something not many people who weren't connected with the program thought we could do."

As for Covarrubias, a 2nd Team All-American and 2nd Team All-West Region selection, he decided to join Cal State Fullerton because he believes in the coaching staff and their system. A familiarity with some of their players played a part in his decision, which included upwards of nine schools who showed interest in the defensive midfielder.

"Everything that I have accomplished as an individual, and with Cerritos, has been the greatest part of my life," said Covarrubias. "Everything I do is for my brother (Alejandro, who played for the Falcons from 2010-11). I've always followed in his footsteps and I look up to him. He's my motivation to always want to do better and be better."

Guerrero had as many as 13 school show interest in him after he scored three goals and added a pair of assists while earning 2nd Team all-conference. He was one of the anchors of the mid-field and his size and improved play after sitting out the 2013 season resulted in his stock rising.

"I knew I wanted to play at Cal State Bakersfield because they showed a lot of interest in me," said Guerrero. "They're a very good program and I look forward to do my best to help them be successful."