The Cerritos College women’s soccer team sits atop the state of California as it’s state champion.

They settled the issue on the playing field against formerly top-ranked Santiago Canyon College at Mount San Antonio College’s soccer facility on Dec. 2.

With the referee’s last whistle, the scoreboard showed 2-0 in favor of Cerritos College.

The road to the championship began not at the beginning of the season, but way back on Nov. 19, 2011.

That date marked the starting point for the sophomores on this year’s team, who were witnesses and participants to the upset of the year when they lost in the first round of last year’s state playoffs to 16th seed Orange Coast College, who with a 1-0 victory eliminated them from the playoffs unexpectedly.

Reflecting on that loss to OCC a year ago, Gaby Zamarripa said, “To lose (last season) was a big disappointment.”

“This year we told the freshmen and sophomores we have to bust our tails or else we’re going to be disappointed again,” Zamarripa said.

A long road

Cerritos College began the 2012 season with 10 straight road games, opening at traditional Northern California powerhouse, City College of San Francisco, fighting to a 2-2 tie.

Cerritos College head coach Ruben Gonzalez said, ”We had six preseason games where we played Friday though Sunday.

“Even though it was early in the season, we knew that playing (the) Sunday after playing Friday was tough,” Gonzalez said of the 9-0-1 preseason success.

This conditioned mental toughness may have been a factor for Cerritos College as it held off the Northern California No. 1 seed Sierra College 2-1, earning the right to play for the championship less than 48 hours later.

“We were ready, I think we were a little tired on Friday, but we got our second wind in the second half today and were able to take advantage of our opportunities,” Gonzalez said.

Strange events

The season was far from perfect.

Freshman Midfielder Jazmine Aguas was left behind before the Pasadena City College game where the Falcons surprisingly lost 4-2 to the host Lancers.

Aguas said, “I was working on a computer in the learning center and had lost track of time.”

Then, before the semifinal against Sierra College, forward, Leah Wilkins, said, “My uniform was left at Cerritos,” all due to a mix up and as a result Wilkins was unable to dress up or play in the game.

Midfielder Mary Michel, injured her knee in practice after the Santa Barbara College game and missed the remainder of the playoffs.

Through those seemingly inconvenient occurrences, the Falcons found a way to prevail and came out on top.

The playoffs

Cerritos College 6, Santa Barbara College 0

The Falcons met the Vaqueros of Santa Barbara College in the first of three straight home playoff games on Nov. 17.

Five different players scored for the Falcons in the shutout of the Vaqueros.

Karina Sandoval led all scorers with two goals, one on an unassisted shot in the first half.

Speaking through an interpreter, Sandoval, a product of Universidad de Guadalajara, said, “I did my job to support the team.”

Cerritos College 2, Cypress College 0

On the day before Thanksgiving, the Cerritos College women’s soccer team was thankful to beat a determined Cypress College team 2-0 on their home field on Nov. 21.

Coach Gonzalez was grateful for the win.

“Fortunately for us we scored two goals and we were able to hold them,” Gonzalez said.

He also added, “It was an ugly game, but that’s how it’s going to be in the playoffs sometimes.”

Cerritos College forward Claudia Ibarra scored first by sending a corner kick over the outstretched hands of Cypress College goalie Michelle Mendez, who managed to get some cloth from her gloves on it before finding the back of the net.

Cerritos College 3, Ventura College 1

The Falcons would then outlast the Pirates of Ventura College 3-1 in an overtime win at home on Nov. 24.

In the first half, the ball bounced back and forth between the two goal lines with 21 shots on goal for the Falcons to the Pirates’ nine.

Play seemed sluggish throughout the first half for Cerritos College.

The scoreless tie was broken in the 66th minute when Pirates midfielder Guadalupe Magana sent a shot over Falcons goalie Maria Santoyo’s head as she was running out to get the ball.

However, the Falcons kept their cool and stepped up the attack, getting rewarded with a goal by Lopez in the 72nd minute.

Regulation ended with both teams knotted at a goal apiece.

The teams would play two additional 15-minute periods, with the winner advancing to the California Community College Final Four on Nov. 30.

In the 93rd minute, Falcons forward Jazmin Aquas received a high pass lofted from Sandoval, which allowed Aquas to capitalize and score, breaking the tie and giving a boost to the Falcons and their fans.

Fatigue seemed to catch up with the visiting Pirates as the Falcons continued to press the ball toward Ventura College’s net.

Cerritos College leading scorer Nanez was rewarded with a perfect pass from defender Gaby Zamarripa from the sideline where she proceeded to send a grounder into the left side of the goal to give the Falcons an insurance goal.

As time expired, a jubilant sideline erupted with cheers as the Falcons were headed to Walnut, Calif., and the CCCAA Final Four.

The Final Four, Site

Cerritos College 2, Sierra College 1

The Falcons arrived at Mt. SAC’s soccer facility prepared to meet the No. 1 seed of the North, the Wolverines of Sierra College, who hail from Rocklin, Calif..

Sierra College had advanced to the Final Four by upsetting the region’s top seed, Fresno City College, 2-1 on Nov 24.

Under thundering skies, the Falcons managed a 1-0 lead at halftime after Claudia Ibarra scored early in the first half.

As had been the case all season, Ibarra used her talented foot to send a free kick careening toward the Wolverine goal.

She bent it perfectly as it sailed into the goal over outstretched Sierra College players and their goalie’s fingertips.

Ibarra later scored her second goal at the 90th minute mark.

Three minutes later, Sierra College’s Miani Mahanna scored the team’s lone goal to keep the game close.

Time ran out on the Wolverines and the Falcons were in the finals for the first time since 2008.