The Cerritos College women's water polo team opened the 2014 season at the American River Tournament in Sacramento over the weekend. The Falcons played four games and dropped all four, as they were defeated by Santa Rosa (10-6), Fresno Cty (5-2). San Joaquin Delta (14-8) and the host Beavers (10-6). Cerritos doesn't get much of a break, as they open South Coast Conference play on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. when they host Chaffey College.

Although the team dropped all four games, they stayed competitive in each of them and several bad passes and shots resulted in transition goals for their opponents. In the opener, sophomore Carla Harvey (Potomac Falls, VA HS) led the team with three foals and three steals, while freshman goalie Kristin Park (Cerritos HS) made nine saves.

Offense was hard to come by against Fresno City, but the team trailed just 2-1 at halftime. The Rams scored the next two goals for then held on for the defensive-minded 5-2 win. Cerritos had 13 turnovers, which affected the outcome, but they did get off 25 shots, which was promising. Freshman Amanda Rabb (Gahr HS) posted three steals, while Harvey and sophomore Celeste Ibarra (Gahr HS) each scored in the game.

Looking up at a 7-3 halftime deficit against San Joaquin Delta, the Falcons were unable to counter their opponents, who outscored them, 4-1 in the third period for an 11-4 lead that held up. Cerritos played well in three of the four periods, and received three goals from Ibarra, while Harvey had two goals, two assists and three steals. Rabb was strong on defense and led the team with four steals, while freshman Samantha Cruz (Gahr HS) added a pair of assists and steals.

In their finale, Park stepped up with 12 saves, but the Falcons could not score after getting to within striking distance of American River. They played even in the second and third periods, but it was a two-goal advantage for the Beavers that accounted for the 10-6 final score. Harvey (three goals, three steals) and sophomore Ashley Padilla (California HS), who had a pair of goals, paced the team.