Jose Rivera is undecided on his major, but very aware of his standing as part of the Cerritos College men’s soccer team, having previously played with Los Angeles Galaxy Academy, and even having been in Germany to play with FC Homburg for a month trial.

He started playing soccer when he was four years old in a recreational league at a park in Torrance, and from there he just kept playing, he said, “It’s something I just ended up doing.”

Rivera played soccer his freshman and sophomore year at Torrance High School, and his junior and part of senior year for the Pateador Academy where he won a national championship.

“I couldn’t play for my school, since I was playing at a higher level, it was my school’s policy”, he said.

During his senior year he started playing for the L.A. Galaxy Academy where he had a mid-center position, while also attending L.A. Harbor College, where he took three courses, totaling nine units.

Rivera said, “I stopped playing for the L.A Galaxy Academy because we lost in the playoffs.”

According to men’s soccer head coach Benny Artiaga there is an age limit to play academy, “After 19 years of age, you can’t play academy, you have to sign with the team,” he said.

His strategy for playing pro is, “working harder to go to a big school after here.”

Artiaga described Rivera’s way of playing as competitive he said, “He is a hot-head, but a good hot-head.”

Rivera’s strategy to succeed in the soccer world is the following: “I plan on playing pro, I was playing in Germany for a little bit then I came back here, hopefully go to a D-1 (school) and play for MLS, or something like that,” Rivera said.

His opinion on Cerritos’ biggest opponent is, “I heard Mt. Sac is good, but we are just about as good as them, I am not scared to go toe to toe with them.”

In Germany he played for FC Homburg, who are in a position-3 league, where he was offered a one month trial, which he completed before returning home.

“That’s when I decided to go Cerritos (College),” Rivera said.

According to Artiaga, Rivera is by far the most competitive player in the team, and reminds the coach of himself. He said “He is the closet thing to myself.”

On Sep. 28 on the game against ECC Compton Center, the Falcons dominated the entire game, as they were victorious 4-0, with two of the four goals being scored by Rivera.

Before that victory Rivera said, “We are going to defend and we are going to have to attack non-stop and hopefully get a couple of goals.”

On Oct. 2, the Falcons experienced an upset loss to El Camino College by a score 3-1.