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HomeSportsVikings wipe out rival Cerritos 17-8

Vikings wipe out rival Cerritos 17-8

By Heaven Herrera

LBCC men’s water polo triumphed over Cerritos with a final score of 17-8 on Oct. 23rd.

The first period kicked off with Cerritos taking an early lead as attacker Tim Robles found the back of the net at seven minutes.

However, Long Beach quickly responded, with attackers Cooper Haddad and Aidan Sepulveda scoring to tie the game. 

Head Coach Djoko Radunovic emphasized the need for his players to display greater maturity during gameplay.

“The boys should work on showing more maturity during the games,” Radunovic said.

The back-and-forth continued as attacker Jacob Colon’s goal gave Cerritos the lead again, but LBCC’s attacker Elijah Molina struck just minutes later, shifting momentum.

As the first period slowed, LBCC took control with goals from center Andrija Stankovic and attacker Sandro Pueyo, ending the first period with a narrow lead at 6-5.

LBCC’s lead continued into the second period, where they showcased their offensive skills.

Defensive player Maxwell Earhart and attacker Cooper Haddad scored early in the second period.

Elijah Mlina making a pass attempt to another teammate during the first period of the game. Vikings took the at home win against Cerritos 17-8 on October 23 2024. (Brianna Apodaca)

“Around the third quarter, there was a turning point, and towards the end of the third, we started to pick it up. I think we should have been more focused,” Ochoa said

Attacker Sandro Pueyo unleashed a flurry of 5 goals, pushing LBCC’s lead to 11-5 by halftime.

During the third period, Cerritos made an effort to come back, with Christian Acosta and attacker Jacob Colon scoring crucial goals.

Center Michael Trujillo’s response for LBCC kept them ahead, leaving the score at 13-7 heading into the final period.

The fourth quarter saw Cerritos score again, but the relentless LBCC offense refused to slow down.

Attackers Elijah Molina and Sandro Pueyo extended the lead, with teammate Louis Hackett finishing things off to seal the victory. 

Defensive player Maxwell Earheart also offered a perspective, acknowledging that while the team secured the win, there remains “definitely room for improvement.”

LBCC Men’s water polo now maintains a record of 18-6 after losing their final game before the South Coast Conference Championship that starts on Friday.

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