M. Soccer: Pair of Falcons named All-American

Jaret Rocha was named 1st Team All-American
Jaret Rocha was named 1st Team All-American

By the conclusion of the 2022 Cerritos College men's soccer season, the team not only led the state in goals, and also the best goals against average allowed. Although the Falcons fell short in their quest for a CCCAA State Championship, the team did have a pair of players named to the United Soccer Coaches All-America teams among Division III (non-scholarship) community colleges. Sophomore defender Jaret Rocha (Paramount HS) was selected to the 1st Team, while sophomore midfielder Antonio Negrete (St. John Bosco HS) was a 2nd Team selection.

Rocha, who missed five games due to an injury, was one of the vital parts of a defense that limited opponents to just 13 goals all season and surrendered two goals in a game just twice. As a team, the Falcons posted 12 shutouts on the year, which included a stretch of four clean sheets in a row.

Antonio Negrete was a 2nd Team All-American selection Using his strong leg, Rocha was also able to score three goals on the season, including the first goal in a 2-1 comeback win against Taft College. Playing the center mid position, Rocha was tasked with taking on every opponent's best offensive player and shut them down time and time again. As a freshman, Rocha was a 2nd Team All-South Coast Conference selection.

Sharing the team lead in goals on a squad that led the state in goals scored (74), Negrete (pictured, left) scored 11 times, with three of them being game-winning goals. A 1st Team All-South Coast Conference selection, Negrete posted a pair of goals in wins over Imperial Valley College, Norco College and Los Angeles Harbor College. He also assisted on three goals and had a five-point game against LA Harbor.

The duo continue a long line of All-American players to come out of Cerritos in more than a decade.