No. 1 Long Beach Men’s Soccer Advances to State Final Four with Historic Win Over Cerritos College

The top-ranked Long Beach City College men's soccer team secured a commanding 3-1 victory over Cerritos College in the fourth round of the Southern Regional Playoffs, earning their first-ever trip to the 3C2A State Championship Final Four. Forward Jose Mariscal delivered an extraordinary performance, recording the team's first hat trick of the season to lead the Vikings to the milestone win.

The first half saw Cerritos take control early, outshooting Long Beach 9-7 (6-2 on target). Cerritos struck first in the 25th minute when a collision between the Vikings' goalkeeper and a defender allowed the ball to pop free, setting up a simple tap-in for the Falcons' forward. However, the Vikings responded just before halftime. In the 40th minute, Ulises Grado fired a shot from outside the box that Mariscal redirected into the net, leveling the match at 1-1 heading into the break.

Long Beach dominated the second half with relentless pressure. Mariscal netted his second goal in the 66th minute off another assist from Grado, a strike that would stand as the game-winner. He completed his hat trick in the 84th minute, skillfully maneuvering around the goalkeeper to score after a well-placed pass from Hector Tellez. The Vikings outshot the Falcons 10-5 in the second half, showcasing their offensive expertise. Goalkeeper Abraham Ramirez also played a key role, recording seven saves throughout the match.

The victory marked the Vikings' 19th win of the season, setting a new program record and cementing their place in school history. Long Beach will now travel to American River College on Friday, December 6, to face Butte College in the State Championship semifinal. A win would propel them into the championship game on Sunday, December 8, with the opportunity to compete for the state title.

State Championship Bracket

Contributed by Cameron Beaulac & Lauren Sterbens