Coming off its first-ever state championship season, the Cerritos College men’s soccer team received praise for its effort and hard work on Jan. 17 during the first Board of Trustees meeting of the spring semester.

The team defeated Taft College, 1-0, on Dec. 10 to clinch the state title. It also finished with an overall record of 20-3-5 and was placed at No. 2 in the country in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas poll.

Now, players say they are looking foward to the new semester and have set a high expectation to win another championship.

Following the meeting, head coach Benny Artiaga said that what paid off the most for the players was the hard work each one put to get to where they are now.

“It’s said that defense wins games,” he said, “but its not just defense because all of the players on this team were dedicated.”

In regard to being named National Coach of the Year, he commented that he was humbled by the honor and opportunity and that to have the support of the members of the Board is great.

Team members also said that Artiaga deserved the honor of being named National Coach of the Year.

“He expected us to win this season,” team captain Joshua Myers said, “and like he stated it was the fact that the rest of the team practiced everyday.”

Myers also said that Artiaga deserved the honor of being named National Coach of the Year because he commented that within his teaching there was a system that was followed and it lead to the team’s success.

Midfield Juan Huerta had praise for his teammates, “because there is a lot of great talent on this team.”

He said that when he scored the winning goal in the game against Taft College that gave them its first-ever state championship it was a great feeling.

Through the season that Artiaga was with the team at practice Huerta said that he had really pushed them to succeed, and he equally said that he is hoping that next season will be much like this one.

After Huerta scored the game-winning goal, forward Brian Alvarez said that he, along with his teammates, mobbed him in celebration emphasizing, “All of us went crazy and so did the crowd who was behind us.” Right wing Edison Portillo said, however, there was something else that happened that helped not only the team succeed but also made the coach himself a success.