Of the 77 California Community Colleges that play men's soccer, Cerritos College is the only team in the state that has yet to allow a goal. The Falcons (5-0-3) kept their shutout streak alive after their 4-0 South Coast Conference crossover win against visiting Pasadena City College. Cerritos will now start South Division play on Friday with a 2:00 p.m. game at El Camino College.
Leading 1-0 30 minutes into the first half, the Falcons saw the Lancers' (2-2-2) Christopher Munoz receive his second yellow card in the span of two minutes, which expelled him from the game and left Pasadena City with just 10 players for the remainder of the game.
Although Cerritos didn't score by the end of the first half, they continued to pressure Pasadena City and it paid off with a pair of goals in less than five minutes in the second half. In the 53rd minute, freshman Carlos Payeras (Lennox Acadeny HS) won the ball away from the Lancers and on the transition, he connected with sophomore Guy Carven (National Haitian Student Alliance HS). After receiving the ball, Carven, controlled the pass, made a quick turn toward the goal and fired a shot past a diving Andrew Espinoza.
The defensive press continued and the Falcons started wearing down the Lancers. Once again, Payers found himself with the ball after a deft defensive play, and he spotted freshman Leonel Perez (St. John Bosco HS) streaking down the left side. His pass landed right on the foot of Perez, who laced a shot into the far side of the net. Cerritos closed out the scoring in the 77th minute when sophomore Jose Rivera (Torrance HS) was pulled down in the box for a penalty kick. He stepped up and converted the kick for a 4-0 lead.
Sophomore goalkeeper Hernan Perez (Pioneer HS), making just his second start of the season, turned away five shots for a shutout. He kept the Lancers off the board with a trio of magnificent first half saves. He turned away Marlon Flores with a diving save to his right and stoned Bryce Watson by deflecting the ball away as it was heading under the crossbar.
Photos by Daryl Peterson
December 7, 2017
M. Soccer: Luis Garcia named All-American
December 1, 2017
M. Soccer: Magical season comes to an end after PK loss
November 25, 2017
M. Soccer: Penalty kicks win sends Falcons to state tournament
November 22, 2017
M. Soccer: Playoff win moves team one step closer to Final Four
November 14, 2017
M. Soccer: Unbeaten Falcons seeded #1 for playoffs
November 11, 2017
M. Soccer: Win secures unbeaten regular season
November 9, 2017
M. Soccer: Tie clinches divisional title for the Falcons
November 7, 2017
Cerritos soccer to host Operation Care Package
November 7, 2017
M. Soccer: Offense lights up scoreboard in shutout win
November 3, 2017
M. Soccer: Team plays to scoreless draw
October 31, 2017
M. Soccer: Early goal doesn't slow down Falcons
October 27, 2017
M. Soccer: Slow start rebounds into 4-1 win
October 24, 2017
M. Soccer: Goal in 90th minute gives team 2-1 win
October 20, 2017
M. Soccer: Ninth win in a row supported by shutout
October 17, 2017
M. Soccer: Aggressive attack leads to 3-1 win
October 13, 2017
M. Soccer: Win over rival keeps team unbeaten
October 6, 2017
M. Soccer: First half output puts LA Harbor away
October 3, 2017
M. Soccer: Offensive output leads to divisional win
September 29, 2017
M. Soccer: Team remains unbeaten after 3-1 win
September 26, 2017
M. Soccer: Shutout keeps Falcons unbeaten
September 19, 2017
M. Soccer: Second half goal secures win for Falcons
September 15, 2017
M. Soccer: Dominant performance turned in by Falcons
September 8, 2017
M. Soccer: Falcons record fifth straight shutout
September 3, 2017
M. Soccer: Cerritos plays to second straight scoreless tie
September 1, 2017
M. Soccer: Falcons play to scoreless draw against Hartnell
August 29, 2017
M. Soccer: Defensive effort accompanies offensive support in win
August 25, 2017
M. Soccer First game nets seven goals for the Falcons