They came into the Southern California Regional Playoffs with a combined five state championships in their second round game on Wednesday. But the Cerritos College women's soccer team moved one step closer to winning their third, as they eliminated #6-seeded Cypress College, 2-0 to advance to the Elite Eight. The #3-seeded Falcons (18-2-2) will host #7-seeded Ventura College (16-5-1) at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday with the winner advancing to the State Tournament. Earlier in the year, Cerritos defeated the Pirates, 2-1, but since then, Ventura has gone 14-0-1 which includes a 1-0 upset win over #2-seeded College of the Canyons to set up their meeting with the Falcons.
In the win over the Chargers (16-3-3), Cerritos used their blazing speed on the edges, coupled with a solid back row - along with a couple of breaks - to hold off their opponents. After controlling the ball at the onset of the contest, the Falcons struck first when freshman Claudia Ibarra (Universidad de Guadalajara HS) bent a beautiful left-footer corner kick that eluded a leaping Michelle Mendez, who got a piece of the ball, but saw it fall into the net for a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute.
It very easily could have been a 2-1 Cypress lead after Monique Gerrits saw her shot on goal deflect off freshman goalkeeper Maria Santoyo (Universidad de Guadalajara HS). But sophomore Chelsea Villegas (Bishop Amat HS) was there to clear the ball out of danger. Three minutes later, the Chargers Kimberly Gonzalez rattled a rising shot from 25 yards out off the crossbar before Santoyo (eight saves) could gather possession of the ball in the 26th minute. Santoyo also made a diving save in the 48th minute against Lisette Guevara to preserve the shutout.
It didn't take very long for the Falcons to regain their composure and pressure the Cypress defense, as speedy Lauren Nanez (La Mirada HS) dribbled past defender Alexandria Moctezuma and turned the corner toward the box. She lofted a picture-perfect pass over the defense and Mendez to freshman Claudia Lopez (Downey HS), who headed the ball into the net in the 29th minute for a 2-0 lead.
The Cerritos defense, led by Villegas, sophomores Karina Sandoval (Universidad de Guadalajara HS) and Jennifer Mejicanos (Bellflower HS), along with freshmen Alyssa Cabral (Bishop Amat HS) and Cristal Yantuche (Lakewood HS) withstood all offensive attacks by Cypress, while the overall speed of the Falcons enabled them to tilt the field in their direction, as they outshot their opponents, 18-12 on the day.
January 21, 2013
W. Soccer: Two players earn All-American honors
January 18, 2013
W. Soccer: National Award given to Ruben Gonzalez
January 2, 2013
W. Soccer: Ruben Gonzalez named Regional Coach of the Year
December 11, 2012
W. Soccer: Falcons named National Champions
December 2, 2012
W. Soccer: Cerritos wins third state title in six years
November 30, 2012
W. Soccer: Win sends Falcons to State Championship Game
November 24, 2012
W. Soccer: Falcons advance to State Tournament with 3-1 win
November 21, 2012
W. Soccer: Pair of first half goals hold up to advance Falcons
November 17, 2012
W. Soccer: Falcons advance in playoffs with win
November 13, 2012
W. Soccer: Team seeded #3 for SoCal Regional Playoffs
November 9, 2012
W. Soccer: Falcons conclude regular season with win
November 6, 2012
W. Soccer: Cerritos drops 4-2 decision to Pasadena City
November 2, 2012
W. Soccer: Unbeaten streak now at seven games
October 30, 2012
W. Soccer: Offense continues to produce in 6-1 win
October 26, 2012
W. Soccer: Falcons dominate El Camino, 4-0
October 23, 2012
W. Soccer: Claudia Ibarra scores four times in 11-1 win
October 19, 2012
W. Soccer: Nanez and Zamarripa lead Cerritos to 7-1 win
October 16, 2012
W. Soccer: Falcons play to scoreless draw against Mt. SAC
October 12, 2012
W. Soccer: Cerritos dominates Pasadena City, 4-1
October 9, 2012
W. Soccer: Falcons lose first game of the season
October 5, 2012
W. Soccer: Late goal salvages win for the Falcons
October 3, 2012
W. Soccer: Ruben Gonzalez named SCC Women's Coach of the Year
October 2, 2012
W. Soccer: Falcons post 7-0 shutout win over El Camino
September 25, 2012
W. Soccer: First half goal enough in 1-0 victory
September 19, 2012
W. Soccer: Cerritos ranked #3 in state in first poll
September 16, 2012
W. Soccer: Cerritos remains unbeaten after win
September 14, 2012
W. Soccer: Falcons record 2-0 shutout win
September 9, 2012
W. Soccer: Cerritos scores two second half goals for win
September 7, 2012
W. Soccer: Road wins will go a long way as season progresses
September 2, 2012
W. Soccer: Falcons score early and often in win
September 1, 2012
W. Soccer: Falcons rebound for win
August 31, 2012
W. Soccer: Team opens season with tie