In five of their first nine games this season, the Cerritos College men's soccer team has scored a goal in the first 15 minutes of the game. In their 5-1 non-conference win on Friday against visiting San Diego Mesa College, the Falcons (7-0-2) needed just 32 seconds to get on the scoreboard.

"Great start to the game," said head coach Benny Artiaga. "I'd like to see our team take it off cruise control sometimes but hey, at least we're not dropping games."

The goal in question came when freshman Jason Alvarez (Norwalk HS) worked a give-and-go with freshman Kobe Chavez (North Hollywood HS) and he fired a shot into the right side of the goal for his first of two on the day.

For just the third time this season, the Falcons surrendered a goal, as the Olympians David Virgen worked through three defenders and got off an uncontested shot that beat freshman goalkeeper Steven Ruiz (Cathedral HS), which was the first goal he's allowed all season. That would turn out to be the only shot of the first half for San Diego Mesa, who finished with just three in the game.

"Today is the first goal where a team actually took on some players and beat us," added Artiaga. "We had allowed a corner kick goal and a gift from defender to forward the entire season (before today). Our goalies continue to play great and we understand teams don't always want to attack us so we need to continue to improve on that, as well."

But before the end of the first half, the Falcons would hold a 3-1 lead, as their offensive attack never relented. In the 32nd minute, sophomore Chris Corona (Pioneer HS) made a nice run up the sideline and spotted sophomore Pablo Caparelli (Real Salt Lake Academy, UT HS), who fired a one-timer past Javier Morales for his fifth goal of the year. Exactly five minutes later, sophomore Uriel Sanchez (Servite HS) just missed out on a goal, as his shot hit the upper part of the post and then deflected off Morales. But Chavez was there to clean up the loose end and picked up his second goal of the half.

Continuing their aggressive play on offense, sophomore Antonio Negrete (St. John Bosco HS) was able to control an unattended ball and fired off a shot from 20 yards out in the 67th minute. The Falcons, who outshot the Olympians, 23-3, closed out the scoring in the 74th minute, as Caparelli sent a crossing pass from one side of the 18-yard box to freshman Diego Cortes (Downey HS), who finished the play with a goal into the upper corner.

The team will travel to Norco College next Friday at 4:00 p.m. for their final non-conference game.

Photos by Daryl Peterson