Cerritos goalkeeper Carmen Cortes stopped 11 El Camino shots, but it was the one that got away in the 85th minute of play that was the difference as the Warriors’ beat the Falcons in women’s soccer play, 1-0 Friday at Cerritos.

After a scoreless first half, Cerritos, playing strong defense throughout the game, had an opportunity to score when Claudia Lozano’s shot curved to the right of the El Camino goal.

Lozano said that she had sprained her ankle and kicked the ball “too hard.”

She added that she was “too anxious” and attempted the shot “too soon.”

El Camino finally broke the deadlock when Jennifer Emanuel emerged from a crowd in front of the net and kicked the ball past a diving Cortes.

Cortes said that the Falcons left the player open, and “if we had marked (kept a defender on) the player,” it would’ve been a different result.

Coach Debbie Jensen said that the game was still “a great game for Cerritos” because the Falcons were still able to get chances to score, and it was the best conference opener in seven years for the team, because it was a tie game for 85 minutes.

She said the team is very positive and doesn’t give up.

“We’re very pleased with our play today.”

Cortes said that it was an accomplishment for the Falcons to play “close to El Camino” because it is a “strong school.”

The atmosphere became charged in the second half when the men’s soccer team, returning from its 1-0 win at Citrus College, arrived at the field to cheer on the women, joining the Cerritos College cheerleaders in rooting for the Falcons.

El Camino 0 1 – 1Cerritos 0 0 – 0

Shots on Goal ECC 24 Cerritos 9. Goalie Saves ECC: Angelo Pellegino 5, Ceritos: Carmen Cortes 11.Records ECC 2-2, Cerritos 1-3