Just one win away from qualifying for the 3C2A State Championships, the Cerritos College men's water polo team saw their season come to an end with a 13-5 playoff loss to rival Long Beach City College on Friday. The Falcons (17-13), who entered the Southern California Regional Playoffs as the #7-seeded team, needed a sudden victory win over El Camino College in the first round to advance to the next round and take on the #2-seeded Vikings.

The two teams split their first two meeting, and through the first half, trailed only, 5-4. But Cerritos was limited to just one goal in the second half, as Long Beach City pulled away for the win.

Sophomore Johan Gaytan (Downey HS) and Declan Nelson (Corona HS) gave the Falcons a 2-1 lead in the first period and were tied at 4-4 with 3:31 left in the first half after another Nelson goal. The Vikings closed out the first half with a goal and then scored six more in a row before sophomore Jacob Colon (Schurr HS) scored in the fourth period.

Gaytan and Nelson each scored twice for the Falcons, while sophomore goalkeeper Diego Campos (Downey HS) turned in 10 saves.