Pete Moye’
Sports Button

Improving its record to 8-1 this week by defeating Long Beach City College on Wednesday and then by going 3-1 in the Chaffey Tournament on Friday and Saturday, the women’s water polo team felt satisfied going into the tournament after the first home victory against the Vikings.

Utility player Shelby Gleason scored two goals against the South Coast Conference team to help lead the Falcons to a 5-3 victory Wednesday.

“I feel pretty good (about scoring two goals), I’m just glad I contributed,” she said.

Utility player Adriana Rodriguez also scored a goal.

Head coach Sergio Macias was satisfied with the win and said, “It’s always nice to beat Long Beach CC, our rivals. That’s our goal every season.”

Cerritos led 4-3 in halftime until attacker Katherine Gabayeron scored her second goal of the game in the third period to make the score 5-3.

“I feel good about the game, but I’m kind of disappointed in myself. I don’t think I played that well, I think I could have done better,” she said.

“I think it was the nerves because it was a big game against our rivals and the first game [against the conference].”

Gleason, who has 27 goals on the season, commented on the team’s efforts to keep the lead in order to win.

”We just kept playing our game and never stopped.”

Click Here to listen to head coach Sergio Macias and players from the Cerritos College waterpolo team after the game.

Macias felt the team’s defense helped the most during the victories over the weekend.

“I think our defense and our goalie (freshman Sharon Ku) had their confidence and had us feel comfortable, they helped keep us in the game,” Macias said.

At the tournament, the Falcons defeated American River College 11-6, San Diego Mesa College 12-3, Santa Rosa College 20-2, but lost to Riverside Community College 1-10 in the second to last game of the tourrnament.

“It looks like it [the score] was a mismatch but I think our team felt that we were able to compete with the top teams and we can complete in a four quarter game which we were able to do against Riverside,” he said.

He later described the bench players’ performance,” They will put a lot more confidence throughout the season. So hopefully, if we play Riverside again, we’ll be able to narrow down the gap.”

Macias was pleased with both freshmen, Gabayeron and Ku.

After playing nine games, Gabayeron has 17 goals, 10 assists, and 15 steals.

Ku has 78 saves in nine games played for the Falcons.

Macias commented on the tournament, saying, “This will be an example of what it is going to be like when we get to the playoffs.”

The Falcons have two conference opponents next on the schedule.

They will have a home game against Pasadena City College on Sept. 21 and an away game at Rio Hondo College on Sept. 28.

Both games will begin at 3 p.m.