As the remaining unbeaten team in the state, the Cerritos College men's soccer team knows that they are a target every time they step on the field. The Falcons (13-0-2, 5-0-0) kept that going after coming away from Rio Hondo College late Tuesday night with a 3-2 South Coast Conference win. The team will now host Los Angeles City College at 4:00 p.m. on Friday.

With two defenders out of the lineup due to injury, the Falcons allowed two goals in a game for the first time this season. Always a battle with the Roadrunners (7-6-3, 2-2-1), the teams were knotted at 2-2 at halftime, with freshman Julian Vazquez (Salesian HS) supplying both of the team's goals. However, the team also lost goalkeeper Juan Pablo Camacho (Norwalk HS), who was injured and did not return to the game.

"Today was a very difficult as always at Rio Hondo" said head coach Benny Artiaga. "We know they are always going to play hard and be a well-coached team. Today we had to battle against a couple suspect penalty kicks, but hey, when you have a target on your back, you have to remain level-headed. We lost our goalie, Juan Pablo Camacho, but Steven (Ruiz) came in and did a great job to hold it down."

It wasn't until the 72nd minute that Cerritos scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal, as sophomore Pablo Caparelli (Real Salt Lake Academy, UT HS) scored his team-leading eighth goal. It was also his fifth game-winning goal of the season, while he also assisted on the second goal.

Freshman goalkeeper Steven Ruiz (Cathedral HS), who came on in relief of Camacho, turned away the only shot he faced in the second half and earned the win.

"Juju Vazquez came up big on the first two goals and Pablo Caparelli had a goal and assist to continue his scoring run (points in the last seven games)," added Artiaga.