Just a few yards away from El Camino’s goal, the Cerritos College men’s soccer team was awarded a free kick. With the El Camino Warriors leading the match 1-0, the opportunity to score was close.
The crowd went silent as freshman Steve Martinez lined up to take the free kick. Tension escalated as the midfielder placed the ball up over the wall and passed the goal keeper.
The silent crowd roaring with excitement all but confirmed the fact that the men’s soccer team scored, tying the game at 1-1 in its game against El Camino College on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at home.
Conference placement was at stake as this was the last game of the first round of conference.
Before the kick-off whistle was blown, El Camino led the conference, with Cerritos sitting four points away in third place.
A win would have put the Falcons within smelling range of the Warriors with one point separating the two.
A loss would decimate Cerritos’ spirits and drag the team down seven points away from the leaders.
As it stands, the tie has given both teams one point and put them four points away from each other.
“I’m just frustrated,” head coach Benny Artiaga said.
The Falcons, in their last three games at home, have not been able to get a win.
“This is our third tie at home. Traditionally, here we are, a team that cannot be beaten at home, we went about five years with out losing.
“Now it looks like there are teams that don’t even respect us,” Artiaga said.
Both teams were highly aware of what was at stake, the stalemate of the game reflects how both teams fought hard to not concede goals.
The physical performance of the two cost Cerritos two injuries, but according to coach Artiaga, the depth of the team can cushion two injuries and continue to operate.
Right back Christian Hernandez believes the chemistry of the team is not in unison.
“Some people are not on top of it and some are; we all need to be on the same page every game, that’s just not happening,” Hernandez said.
In the 30th minute of the game, Cerritos was scored on with an effort from an El Camino corner.
The goal awoke the sleeping Falcons as the build-up play effort led to the free kick goal that put them level.
Captain center back Ricardo Covarrubias wants the team to work harder than it did Tuesday.
“We have to come together and just keep grinding it out (until) the last minute. In the second half we did much better, we had a couple chances there, (and) we just have to finish it,” Covarrubias said.
The next game is against East Los Angeles College on the road Oct. 24 at 4 p.m.
