The Cerritos College men’s soccer team finished with an overall record of 15-5-4, and finished 8-3-3 in conference play last season. The top scorers of the team include Thiago Lusardi, former Cerritos College soccer player, with 18 goals scored in last season and Edwin Corona with 9 goals scored.

Some of the men’s players have their eyes set on being State Champions this season.

Christian Hernandez, defensive right back, felt that the team should put in more work from what it did last year.

“We want to take state, and in order to do that, we’re going to work harder than last year,” he said.

Hernandez expressed the importance of each game instead of thinking about what might happen later on in the season.

“I’m just worried about winning games each game at a time. After that, just see what happens; Not thinking about the future right now,” he said.

Jose Ochoa, center midfielder, echoed the same message of taking the title back to Cerritos College.

“We want to take it all, bring that state (championship) home,” he said.

Ochoa said that one of his priorities this season to is to become a leader and lead the team to the State Championships, as well as working harder through the practices and the games to achieve that goal.

The women’s soccer team is coming off a season where it won the National Championship for the second year in a row, finishing with an overall record of 24-0-1 and a perfect away record of 10-0.

The next season will be dedicated to Jasmine Cornejo who died of seizures earlier in August, with the first home game of the season on Sept. 9 paying tribute to her.

Sophmore Center-Back, Malia Tilton, believes that all of the hard work and commitment payed off in the long-run.

She also expressed that the team will not fall out into complacency after winning back-to-back titles.

“The way that our coaches are, they kind of make sure we’re not that way. We like to play for the love of the game, not just for ourselves, but for the team and representing our school. And knowing that we are state champs and national champs, that feels good,” Tiltion said.

Cheyenne D’Aquila, defender; freshman and Makayla Mendoza, right defender; freshman, both are coming with the mentality that they will win another national championship.

Cassie Reyes, center midfielder, said, “You don’t think about the past. Be humble and know that you’re good, but don’t be overly confident.”