With a new coach and a new playbook, the men’s soccer team looks to get back to winning games.

After taking the South Coast Conference title in 1999, the Falcons finished 2000 with a 2-17-3 record.

Juan Torres begins his first year as the Falcons’ head coach. He played on the 1999 team and was an assistant coach last season.

He said that the last season was “disastrous” because the team had a lot of injuries.

With improved conditioning and a “new system of plays,” he expects the team to “score a lot of goals” and “complement the offense and defense” to reach its goal of winning the SCC championship.

At forward, two new players will join returning sophomore Nestor Elias.

They are Nino Piazzi and Jorge Vargas, who Torres calls “real good players.”

The defense will rely on newcomers Ivan Cano, Tony Toledo, Alex Arce, and Josue.

Torres predicted that they will be the “best defenders Cerritos has ever had in its history.”

The players also see improvement.

Miguel Zepeda said “We have a lot of offensive firepower” and “good chemistry. Something we didn’t have last year.”

He added that the team is “more confident” than last year, and with “closer bonds” between the players, will be “a lot better on the field.”

Calvin Ruiz said that the new system of plays is “more offensive minded” and hopes that it will “put the ball more in the net.”

The Falcons open the season Monday at Orange Coast College. Their first home game is Aug. 29 against Victor Valley College.