Taking on NCAA Division III Cal Lutheran University on the road Friday, the Cerritos College men's water polo team suffered a 16-7 loss. The Falcons (13-5) will now play one of their biggest matches of the season, as they host Mt. San Antonio College in a 4:30 p.m. South Coast Conference match next Wednesday. Cerritos is currently 3-0 in conference play, and tied for first place, while the Mounties (15-4, 3-1) are a game behind.

In the loss to the Kingsmen (9-9), the Falcons allowed the first three goals of the first period before scoring and then surrendered three more. They trailed, 9-3 late in the first half before sophomore Jake Evans (Long Beach Wilson HS) scored in the final minute of the half. However, Cal Lu opened the third period with a pair of goals and scored them in bunches throughout the match.

Sophomore Raul Muniz (Colbach, Mexico) accounted for three goals, while sophomore Arturo Ortuno (Universidad la Salle, Mexico) pitched in with two goals and two steals. The team played without two of their starters, sophomore Dylan Sun (Cerritos HS) and freshman Will Alwine (La Quinta HS), which affected their team chemistry. Freshman Mateo Fernandez (St. John Bosco HS) also checked in with a trio of steals, while freshman goalkeeper Zachary Jenkins (La Serna HS) made six stops in his three periods of work.