For the third game in a row, and ninth time this season, the Cerritos College women's soccer team posted a shutout. The Falcons (12-1-0), ranked #3 in the country in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) ranking, defeated visiting Pasadena City College, 5-0 in a South Coast Conference crossover game. The team will travel to Chaffey College for a 2:00 p.m. crossover game on Friday.

Cerritos put pressure on the Lancers (2-9-3) defense from the start of the game and peppered goalie Amy Castillo with multiple shots. Sophomore Amber Whitmore (Los Alamitos HS) had seven first half shots on goal and finally got one past Castillo to open the scoring in the 37th minute. On the play, sophomore Natalie de Leon (St. Joseph HS) worked her way around a PCC defender and was able to send a crossing pass in front of the net, where Whitmore headed it home for her 12th goal of the season.

Earning an assist in the team's next three goals was sophomore Jill Messersmith (Newport Beach HS), giving her a state-leading 14 on the year. Messersmith helped make it a 2-0 game in the 40th minute when her crossing pass cleared all defenders and sophomore Cheyenne De Los Reyes (Santa Monica HS/Santa Monica College) was able to head the ball over a leaping Castillo.

Right before halftime, Messersmith was unmarked and dribbled the ball into the middle of the field toward the top of the 18-yard box. When the defenders collapsed on her, she spotted sophomore Ashli Villalobos (Mayfair HS/Cal State Los Angeles), who scored in the short side for a 3-0 advantage.

In the second half, Messersmith once again was able to bring the ball deep into Lancer territory. She searched for an open teammate and de Leon jumped on the loose ball and finished the play for a goal in the 64th minute. Late in the game, freshman Maria Hernandez (Sierra Vista HS) lifted a shot over Castillo (12 saves) after receiving a pass from freshman Kailey Hernandez (Lawndale HS) in the 89th minute.

Unlike Castillo, Falcon sophomore goalkeeper Ruby Nichols (Bishop Amat HS) went the entire game without being asked to make a save. Pasadena City was able to get off just one shot attempt that rolled wide of the net in the second half.

Photos by Daryl Peterson