Cerritos College’s women’s soccer team averted a repeat of last year’s first round loss in the Southern California Regional Playoffs by defeating Santa Barbara City College Vaqueros 6-0 at home on Saturday, Nov. 17.
Five different Falcons players scored in the shutout of the Vaqueros.
The Falcons were coming off a 4-1 victory at Mount San Antonio College back on Nov. 9 after being surprised in a defeat at Pasadena City College 4-2, on Nov. 6.
Cerritos’ leading scorer Lauren Nanez added to her season tally by adding her sixteenth goal early in the 9th minute of the first half.
It was off an assist from Karina Sandoval.
“I felt really good about our team today,” Nanez said of her teammates’ effort against the Vaqueros.
Nanez was on the 2011 squad which lost in the first round.
Speaking of how it felt to advance this year, Nanez said, ”It felt really great!”
“I was so nervous before the game thinking, ‘we have a lot to live up to’;I think we performed,” Nanez exclaimed.
Falcons head coach Ruben Gonzalez said of the play of his team, “At times we looked good, at times we didn’t look as good as we wanted to.”
“At the end of the day, it’s the first round. It’s difficult.”
“As long as we came out (on top), whether it’s 1-0 or 2-1, that’s what we wanted to do, get the win,” said Gonzalez.
Leading 3-0 at halftime, Gonzalez’s strategy was to increase the lead and not give Santa Barbara City College any confidence in the second half.
“We wanted to put a goal in early and start resting players for our next game on Wednesday,” Gonzalez said.
Kayla Paiz scored the Falcons’ third goal of the first half and said, “It was surprising. I didn’t think it was going to go in, but it went in.”
Karina Sandoval led all scorers with two goals, one an unassisted shot in the first half.
Speaking through an interpreter, Sandoval, a product of Universidad de Guadalajara, said, “I did my job to support the team.”
Forward Claudia Ibarra added the fourth goal for Cerritos College in the 50th minute, with assists from Claudia Lopez and Jennifer Mejicanos.
“I am ready and prepared,” Ibarra said of the Falcons’ second round opponent.
“I was a little nervous before the game… As the game continued, it went away,” Ibarra continued.
Commenting on the play of Santa Barbara City College, Ibarra said, “They were aggressive, but we wanted it more.”
“We were a lot more skillful and talented on the field and we left it all there,” Ibarra concluded.
Scoring the final goal was nursing major Claudia Lopez, who said, “I was hoping to get it because I was frustrated in the first half.”
“It was a nice cross from Lauren,” Lopez said of the assist from teammate Nanez.
In attendance at Saturday’s match was Mexican Women’s National team member Maribel Dominguez, who represented Mexico in the 2011 Women’s World Cup, as well as the past Olympic team.
Dominguez explained that she was the coach of Cerritos College players Sandoval, Gaby Zamarripa and goalie Maria Santoyo back in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
Dominguez is in Los Angeles playing in a professional women’s soccer tournament and thought it was a good idea to come watch her former players.
Dominguez said of the Falcons effort, ”Many Cerritos players touched the ball before passing it.”
By doing so, it spreads the defense out over the largest soccer pitch allowed.
“We have the largest soccer pitch allowed under soccer rules,” said Dr. Daniel Smith, instructional dean of health, physical dducation, and athletics.
Dominguez added, “Winning the game was the most important thing, and if they keep playing this way, they can reach the (state) finals.”
If Dominguez were to represent Mexico again on the National Team, she said she would recommend any of the eligible members of the Falcons team for consideration.
With the victory, Cerritos College advances to the second round, where they will meet Cypress College on Wednesday Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. on the Falcons Soccer Field.
