The Cerritos College soccer teams are ready for the 2018 season, and want to win the State Championship and a National Championship this time.
Both teams won their South Coast Conference titles respectively, but they did not win a championship either at the state or national playoffs.
Cerritos men’s soccer was eliminated in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.
The women’s team were eliminated in a third round game after a 1-0 defeat against Santa Barbara City College.
Coaches Ruben Gonzalez and Benjamin Artiaga have one goal in mind: win as many games as possible to accomplish their goal.
Cerritos women’s soccer had a 20-2-1 record and will be looking forward to a State Championship this season.
Gonzalez said, “We want to win a championship… if we do not win a championship it is a failure.”
Women’s soccer aren’t taking anything for granted this season, because of their defeat in a third round playoff match last season.
Defender Brianna Yepez said that the team can get to the post-season, win the conference title and the squad is ready to obtain their goal.
She also said, the team needs to have communication on the field because in the 2017 season the team did not communicate enough to complete its objective and individual players need to improve themselves.
Another key player according to Gonzalez for 2018 will be America Ontiveros, however she is injured and may not be on the field for the first games of this campaign.
Cerritos men’s soccer team despite ending undefeated 10-0-7 did not win the State Championship; the team was eliminated in the Semifinals after a penalty shootout loss against Taft College.
Artiaga stated that the team needs to score in the first 15 to 30 minutes of their games this season.
Their goal is to win a fourth State Championship this season. In a few words, the men’s soccer team will not take ball possession lightly in order to get their victories on the field.
He also explained that offense this season will be better and stronger than last season.
One of the key players for the men’s team for this season is sophomore goalkeeper Jordan Aldama, who will be a strong keeper according to Artiaga; Aldama made 78 saves in 2017.
Sophomore midfielder Esteban Camacho who will be the team captain will also be an important player this campaign.
Sophomore midfielder Erick Gallinar will also make a difference; he made four assists with U.C. Irvine soccer team in 2017 season.
Sophomore forward Christian Perez will also be a factor this campaign, according to Artiaga, he will be the goalscorer of the team and of the whole state of California.
In 2017 season, Perez scored 10 goals for the men’s team so expect many goals in 2018 season from Perez.
Cerritos men and women soccer teams are expected to be conference winners in 2018, however their objective is to win a state or national championship.
