By Michael Price
ELAC goalkeeper Rodriguez had placed the ball ready to clear it away when Falcon Claudia Lopez surprised Rodriguez, taking advantage of her mistake and kicking the ball into ELAC’s net.
The Huskies appealed the goal but the referee allowed it giving the Huskies a close home loss Friday, Oct. 5, to the No. 1-ranked team in the state, Cerritos College.
It all started when the score was deadlocked at 1-1, with the clock stopped after 90 minutes of play in injury time. Cerritos College came out in attack crossing the ball over the Husky defense and the lineman waved his flag for offsides as the referee blew the whistle.
ELAC now stands 3-4-4 overall, 0-2-2 in the SCC and dropped out of the polls. The Falcons stand 9-0-1 (3-0).
ELAC took an early lead over Cerritos when Leslie Rivera gave a through pass to Jessica Guzman, who broke from her mark and slotted home a shot that looked wide, but crept softly into goal.
In the 30th minute, the Huskies had a chance to double their lead when a string of passes drove ELAC’s side near the edge of Cerritos’ box.
Rivera had an opportunity on goal, but her attempt was foiled by the Falcons defense.
During the 80 minute mark, Cerritos’s Lauren Nanez, was injured after she drove the ball into ELAC’s box. Husky goalkeeper Belen Rodriguez swept the ball from under the Cerritos winger.
The winger tried jumping over Rodriguez, but got caught and twisted her ankle. She was substituted and carried off the field.
Seconds later, Cerritos came knocking again. Falcon Jazmine Aguas sent a pass to Jasmine Cornejo, who broke through ELAC’s defense going one-on-one with Husky goalkeeper Rodriguez.
Rodriguez tried to parry the ball away, but to no avail as the ball rolled into the far corner for a goal.
The Huskies face off against El Camino College on the road Friday, Oct. 12 at 4 p.m.