The men’s soccer team’s victory against East Los Angeles College on Tues., Sept. 30, was a win in the books for the conference title.

Now the Falcons hit the road and venture off to play local rivals Long Beach City College for the second game in the conference campaign.

Captain midfielder Jose Ochoa knows the derby will be an even match as the local rivals have Cerritos locked in its cross-hairs.

“Long Beach is a good team,” the captain said. “(It) really want(s) to beat Cerritos so we have to go out harder.”

Left midfield player Jorge Reyes believes every option is considered against the Long Beach Vikings and every play the opponents dish out must be countered smartly.

“We have to keep those silly fouls under control,” Reyes said.

The tight win against ELAC saw a long range free kick enter the Falcon’s net, leveling the game at 1-1.

Head coach Benny Artiaga warned his players that unnecessary fouls in the wrong areas can give the opposition windows of opportunity.

“We could still always prevent that,” Reyes said. “We just have to work and talk, it was just an unlucky goal.”

The Vikings experienced a 4-1 loss Tue., Sept. 30, against L.A. Harbor. That defeat can either hurt the team’s spirits, or fuel an unstoppable fire.

Either way, attacking midfielder Gilbert Rocha says every team wants a win against Cerritos College, and he wants make that close to impossible for the opposition.

“We just have to go out with that high intensity,” Rocha said. “Every team is out there to get us, Cerritos is a big game; (ELAC is) going to come out with high intensity, so we have to match it.”

The second game to decide conference points will be away from home Fri., Oct. 3, at 4 p.m.