M. Soccer: Tournament title goes to Falcons after penalty kicks

File Photo: Defense holds strong in scoreless game with Fresno City
File Photo: Defense holds strong in scoreless game with Fresno City

After playing Fresno City College to a scoreless tie in their second game of the Hartnell Tournament, the Cerritos College men's soccer team captured their second title in a row when they recorded a 3-1 advantage on penalty kicks. The defending state champion Falcons (3-0-1) are now 1-0-3 in their last four games against the Rams (0-0-2). The team will now travel to Golden West College for a 3:00 p.m. game on Friday. It was the Rustlers that Cerritos defeated in the state championship game last season, 2-1.

With 90 minutes of playing time concluded, the tournament game went to penalty kicks, where the Falcons converted their first two and then clinched the win when sophomore Eugene Martinez (Delille Academy, Belize) drilled a shot into the net. Sophomores Bryan Ortega (Paramount HS) and Kevin Diaz (Connections Academy HS) opened the penalty kicks with positive conversions. Freshman goalkeeper Luis Enciso (Gahr HS), who made six saves in the match, recorded a save, while the Rams missed on two attempts.