For every goal they conceded, the Warriors had a response. With their winning streak on the line, anything less than a win was not an option.

EC men’s soccer team won 3-2 against El Camino Compton Center on Friday launching itself to the top of the the South Coast Conference standings.

“We came out big like every game knowing it’s going to be hard it’s going to be a war,” freshman defender Edgar Esquivel said. “We just better go out there and fight because they’re not going to back down and we’re not going to back down so we just have to give it 100 percent.”

The Warriors took the lead twice in the first half thanks to double assists from sophomore midfielder Charlie Gonzalez.

“Every time we get scored on its something that our coach tells us is not to let it get to us, to keep our mentality strong, and keep coming at them, We know we’re the better team and we have the confidence in each other. We know we’re going to come back score another one.”

However, Compton equalized twice going into halftime.

“Defensively we got caught ball watching a few times,” assistant coach Ever Morotoya said. “First goal was a counter-attack and great shot from their forward. Second goal (was) us making silly fouls and us not covering each.”

EC quickly restored the lead, this time for good when sophomore midfielder Victor Guerrero got past a defender and took a shot from just outside the penalty box which went straight down the bottom left corner of the goal.

“That was extraordinary, his assist and his goal,” Guerrero said.”I just saw the guy coming to me fast so I just cut it back took a little touch and shot it.”

Possession was a key factor for EC in in the final minutes and it helped them keep control of the game.

“(We) didn’t let them attack too much and when they did, our defense held them ,” Guerrero said. “The more possession we kept the more frustrated they got and we took them out of the game.”

The Warriors’ winning streak stretches to five games and they have won seven of their last eight games.

“Confidence wise it helps the guys feel confident enough to compete for conference, Morotoya said. “So, as long as we keep on winning and playing some soccer it’s going to keep them happy and going forward toward their goal. We have this little goal where we want to win conference or at least win conference against Mt. Sac and Cerritos.”

Gonzalez leads the team in assists with seven in 10 games. EC also went into the game ranked 12th in the 2014 California Community College Athletic Association Men’s Soccer State and Regional Poll which was released Thursday.

The Warriors’ next two games will be crucial to their playoff ambitions. They travel to third ranked Cerritos College on Oct. 21 at 3 p.m..