M. Soccer: Cerritos drops 3-1 decision to rival Mt. San Antonio

File Photo: Donovan Perez scored the lone goal for the Falcons
File Photo: Donovan Perez scored the lone goal for the Falcons

In what is generally billed as the biggest non-playoff game of the year, the Cerritos College men's soccer team suffered a 3-1 South Coast Conference defeat against rival Mt. San Antonio College on Tuesday. The setback snapped the Falcons (9-5-3, 3-2-2) four-match unbeaten streak and dropped the team into a second place tie in the South Division with two games remaining before the conference tournament. On Friday, the team will travel to Compton College for a 2:00 p.m. South Division game.

In the loss to the Mounties, Cerritos was able to tie the game in the 31st minute after Mt. SAC took an early 1-0 lead. On the Falcons goal, freshman Miguel Gonzalez was able to feed freshman Donavan Perez (South East HS), who slipped a shot past Mt. San Antonio goalkeeper Daniel Ramirez. It was the team-leading seventh goal of the season for Perez.

"This was a tough game for us," stated head coach Benny Artiaga. "We played well and created good chances, but just made a couple silly mistakes. The first goal (for Mt. SAC) was a silly foul and set piece, while the second goal was a transition penalty kick. They scored the third goal on a counter attack late in the game."

Cerritos took 11 shots on the day, with six of them on target. Perez led the team with four shots on goal.

Sophomore goalkeeper Juan Pablo Camacho (Norwalk HS), who took the loss, made five saves.