By John M. Sherrard

(CERRITOS) It's been a while since the Mountie women water polo team lost to the Falcons, but it happened Wednesday in a South Coast Conference game.

A defensive battle took place at the Falcon Aquatic Center with Cerritos coming away with a 5-3 win to remain undefeated and tied with Long Beach City College for first place.

Mt. SAC (12-7, 6-1) slipped into second place behind Cerritos (13-5, 6-0) and LBCC (12-6, 6-0) but remains one of the top three teams when post season action comes along.

Sophomore attacker Hannah Krolik (Ontario HS) scored two of the three goals for the Mounties in the game. Freshman 2-meter player Kayla De Herrera (Bonita HS) had the other goal.

"We have to shake this one off going into the final couple of weeks and get ready for the post season," Coach Chris Jackson said.

The Mounties will now take a two week break from conference action with only one game remaining against LBCC on Oct. 26.

Mt. SAC will also play in one last tournament at Long Beach in the "Battle at the Beach", Oct. 21-22.

"That was a bazaar game," Jackson added. "Our offense is not used to scoring only five goals. Holding a team to five goals should have been enough to win.

"We should have had better shots and were unable to establish a threat on the outside."

Jackson, however, praised freshman goalie Shelby Garcia (Ayala HS) for her efforts. "I did like the job Shelby did in goal. A great job."

Additionally, freshman Marina Valenzuela (Chino HS) drew three ejections Jackson said.

The Mounties got on the board early in the game at the 6:24 mark with the only goal of the period by Krolik, who also had two steals in the game.

It was the only goal of the period.

De Herrera gave Mt. SAC a 2-0 lead early in the second on an assist from Beth Keane (Corona HS).

However, that was it offensively for the Mounties until late in the third period.

Meanwhile, Cerritos tied the game at 2-2, before Krolik gave Mt. SAC its final lead of the game, 3-2, with 4:03 left in the third.

Cerritos tied the game at 3-3 with 1:32 left in the third and scored the only two goals in the fourth period by Isabella Sierra, who had three in the game.