As the regular season slowly comes to a conclusion, potential playoff scenarios start developing with each match. For the Cerritos College men's water polo team, they know that every win they collect against a team that's on the bubble for the post-season becomes more and more important. On the first day of the Golden West Tournament, the Falcons split their two games, as they defeated Riverside City College (8-5) and then dropped a tight 12-11 decision to Orange Coast College. Playing host to half of the tournament, Cerritos (17-8) is scheduled for two more games in their home pool, as they face American River College at 7:45 a.m. and then host a 1:15 p.m. game against San Joaquin Delta College.

Cerritos vs. Riverside City: In a tight defensive struggle, the Falcons were able to score at the right time and then relied on some great defense in the fourth period. In addition to freshman goalie Grant Jimenez (Cerritos HS) posting 10 saves, sophomore David Lumbreras (Downey HS) aided him with six field blocks to go along with his game-high seven steals. With Lumbreras blocking shots in the field, it was eliminating scoring chances for the Tigers, which allowed the offense to get started. The Falcons held a 5-2 lead after the first period and then shut out RCC in the second period. Five different players scored in getting the team out to a 6-2 lead, and when the Tigers got to within 6-4 in the third period, sophomore Andrew Javier (Cerritos HS) and freshman Kevin Rubio (La Serna HS) scored to put the team up by four goals. Sophomore Michael Hanna (Cerritos HS) and freshman Felix Gonzalez (Montebello HS) each scored twice in the win.

Cerritos vs. Orange Coast: With both teams fighting for potential playoff position, the Pirates (13-7) were able to win their eighth straight game, as they held off the Falcons. Allowing OCC to score the first three goals of the game, Cerritos slowly started working their way back into the game and stayed within one goal until tying the match at 11-11 in the fourth quarter. But Orange Coast was able to score on Jimenez (seven saves), while the Falcons had several shots careen off the frame of the goal. Rubio led the team with four goals and four steals, with sophomore Alberto Gonzalez (Montebello HS/Mt. San Antonio College) added two goals.