After winning the CCCAA State Championship with a record of 21-2-2, Cerritos women’s soccer is awaiting on Tuesday, Dec. 11 when the National Champions will be announced.

Women’s soccer coach Ruben Gonzalez said, “I think they have a good chance, but you never know. It’s not like you win a game on the field you‘ll win a national championship, but hopefully we do.”

His biggest challenge was to keep the team healthy since injuries are part of the game.

He went on to adding, “I think we did a pretty good job of that.”

Besides a healthy team there are other factors that contributed to the Falcons victory he said “we had good chemistry, it was very good all year and I think that’s one of the reasons we won the championship.”

Men’s soccer head coach and Cerritos College soccer director Benny Artiaga commented on whether he thought the Falcons will win the National Championship.

He said, “It’s a voting system and the people from the East Coast really tend to stick together because they don’t compete against the same teams.”

Artiaga explained how even though the women’s soccer team beat the top teams on the West Coast; it is not in the other community colleges’ best interest to vote for Cerritos.

“I think unfortunately, there are so many community colleges that we don’t have the support for each other. For example Mt. SAC won’t vote for us to win national titles because it affects their recruiting.”

“The men’s soccer won two state titles and both times we were placed no. 2 in the country because we were voted out.”

Coach Gonzalez talked about what he looks for in players when recruiting, “You are always looking for good players. I don’t think it matters what positions (they play). Just having good student-athletes, having them compete with returning players to make the incoming (players) better.”

Another factor that influenced this victory according to Gonzalez was, “the hard work that we put in all year, and of course talented players, realizing that we have to put in the work since the beginning of summer.”

The influence this accomplishment brought upon this year’s squad, was the interest four-year schools developed in sophomore players Lauren Nanez, Chelsea Villegas and Jennifer Mejicanos will go on to play to a four-year schools.

Midfielder Chelsea Villegas is currently considering two schools, saying “I am being looked at by a few schools, two of them being Mercy College in New York and Concordia in Irvine. I still haven’t made up my mind on where exactly I want to transfer.”

“I just recently came back from New York and it was an amazing place, Mercy College and its program have a great environment. I will be seeing Concordia this Thursday so I can’t say I have chosen anything for sure yet.”

Coach Gonzalez also commented on the teams’ aspirations, saying “Here at Cerritos College our goal is always to win a championship. If we don’t, I think it’s a failure.”

Besides the team’s chemistry and dedication, Gonzalez explained how each and every team member did it’s part, “they practiced all year long against each other, they made everyone compete.”

Still Gonzales thinks Cerritos College’s biggest opponent nationally speaking is Mohawk Valley College of Rome, N.Y.

He also explains what the sentimental value of wining the state championship has, stating “it means a lot because we did lot of work recruiting and practicing. It takes a lot of time away from family but it’s special, this group of young ladies worked hard and were selfish and really defined what it means to be a team, and that is what makes it special for me just seeing them accomplish their goals.”

Villegas also told what it means to win a National Championship, “Personally if we won a National Championship, I would be ecstatic, especially with all the animosity we have been getting over our win and being called cheaters every year. It would be amazing to shut people up with one more title under us.“

As far as a national title, Gonzalez said, “It will be a great honor for our school for our program, it will be something that is very special for everyone involved in our soccer program.”

Gonzalez is hopeful on bringing home the national title to the Falcons, explaining, “We just want to continue and have one of the best programs in the country.”