With time running out and trailing by a goal, the Cerritos College women's water polo team got off the last shot, but it missed the cage in a 10-9 South Coast Conference loss to rival Long Beach City College on Wednesday. The Falcons (10-3, 3-1) will now compete in the Citrus Tournament this Saturday and take on East Los Angeles College, which will serve as their conference match, followed by a game against Saddleback College.

After sophomore Melodie Carbajal (El Rancho HS) scored with :26 seconds left in the fourth quarter to make it a 10-9 game, head coach Sergio Macias called timeout. Coming out of the timeout, he chose to have sophomore goalkeeper April Nuno (Cerritos HS) come out of the net to play defense, while leaving freshman Mia Carbajal (Schurr HS) alone in the Vikings offensive zone in case of a quick turnover. Joining the play when the ball was moved to the middle of the pool, Mia Carbajal was able to get a steal with :14 seconds remaining. Looking for the last shot, Melodie Carbajal saw her shot from distance sail over the cage, ending the team's chance at extending the game to overtime.

A late third quarter goal by sophomore Gabriella Arenas (Montebello HS), followed by a Mia Carbajal goal with 6:07 remaining on the clock tied the game at 8-8. The Vikings received consecutive goals to open a 10-8 lead until the Melodie Carbajal goal with :26 seconds left. Cerritos was turned away on several possessions when Long Beach City was able to collapse the middle, as the Falcons looked to get a high percentage shot.

Sophomore Haili Snook (Downey HS) started the game in goal and played the first period before Nuno came in in relief and played the remainder of the game. It was the first action for Nuno, an All- South Coast Conference Honorable Mention selection in 2019, since September 11.

Photos by Daryl Peterson