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04.03.08 -
Monique Cisneros
looks to score
against the Mexican
Under-20 National
team as the crowd
looks on. |
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More Photos |
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With
an estimated 900 people in attendance,
the Cerritos College women's soccer team
played host to the Mexican Under-20
National Team on Thursday afternoon to
the delight of all that witnessed the
game. Deemed an International Friendly,
the game was a first for a community
college team, with the state champion
Falcons serving as the host. Although
the final score was a 5-2 Mexican
decision, the outcome of the game paled
in comparison to the impact it had on
both teams.
"I
thought that with the huge following of
Mexican soccer in the community and the
success we had this past season, it was
the perfect setting for a game," said
Cerritos head coach
Ruben Gonzalez. "I was very
impressed with the turnout from our
team's family and friends, while the
community came out to see two very good
teams play.
"Our
team was a little nervous and wide-eyed
in the first half and the mistakes we
made showed," added Gonzalez. "The
Mexican team is a much-improved team and
they were able to capitalize on our
mistakes," added Gonzalez, referring to
the 3-0 deficit at halftime.
But in
the second half, the Falcons settled
down and got on the board when Lily
Leos scored in the 53rd
minute on Mexican goalie Wendy Espejel from
about 40 yards away. The second goal
came from Vanessa
Monreal, who was a member
of the state championship team, in the
81st minute on a corner kick. However,
Cerritos didn't have an answer
for Mexico's Sandra Mayor, who scored
two goals in both halves, while Liliana
Godoy scored the other goal.
"I
wanted to give all of our players a
chance to see some action in the first
half and be able to say they played in
this game," said Gonzalez. "I played
more of my 'regular' players in the
second half and we played to a 2-2 draw
during that time."
In
order for a Cerritos player to be able
to suit up in the game, they were
required to be in one of the two college
intercollegiate soccer classes and have
completed a physical. Of the players in
uniform for the Falcons, 16 of them were
members of the state championship team,
while a 17th, Susanna Mendoza, was
wearing the green of Mexico, as she is a
member of the national team this year
and will return to the Falcons the
following year for her sophomore season.
A
couple of returning players stood out
for the Falcons, according to Gonzalez.
He praised the play of
Desiree Cardenas, who
played with Mexico at last year's FIFA
Under-20 World Cup, and saw time at
sweeper in the first half and forward in
the second half. He felt her play might
have been the best of all that competed
in the game. Gonzalez was also pleased
with
Rosalinda Anaya, a
little-used player last season, but is
expected to add much more to the team
this year.
Gonzalez also mentioned that there is a
chance the two teams could meet in
another scrimmage later in the year and
stated, "It would be during our season,
and with better conditioning at that
time of the year, we should be able to
give them a much better game. We're out
of season right now and only meet twice
a week, so we should be better if we
played them during our season."
