Sophomore forward Derrick Hamilton ran up the midfield and fired a blistering shot toward the goal. The ball floated over the goalkeeper and hit the crossbar rebounding onto the path of freshman midfielder Carlos Rosales. The midfielder then fired the ball past the goalie and into the net, equalizing the score.

The Warriors are sole South Coast conference champions. EC clinched the title on Tuesday but needed at least a draw to keep from sharing it with Cerritos. The Warriors finish the regular season undefeated at home after their 1-1 draw on Friday.

“The players showed their emotion (after the goal),” coach John Britton said. “I’m very pleased that we stuck it together. We were close two years ago and we kind of blew it with two games to go and we almost did the same here. I didn’t want history to repeat itself.”

Cerritos took the lead in the 31st minute. A cross from the visiting team into the penalty box resulted in a headed goal making the score 1-0.

“We started a little weak but once we woke up we started playing better and we trusted each other. Trust is a big thing,” sophomore goalkeeper Jose Sanchez said.

Cerritos pressed on for a second but a solid Warrior defense kept the score the same.

“Just working hard as a team not giving up playing with confidence not giving up getting that equalizer was the main thing, ” sophomore defender Garett Buchelli said.

The referee booked EC three times as the Warriors’ pursuit for an equalizer made it a physical game.

“It’s part of the game. We just had to keep playing and fighting,” Garett Buchelli said. “The main thing is to stay quiet and keep playing as a team and just stay focused.”

EC equalized with three minutes remaining in regulation. Hamilton shot a powerful shot from outside the penalty box that hit the crossbar. The rebound fell to Carlos Rosales who slotted it into the goal.

“I just saw the ball coming straight at me,” Rosales said. “I kind of got in between the defender and my only thing (I thought) was to put it on target and score. That was the only thing I thought about. The ball was going towards the net I was already celebrating.”

The Warrior bench jumped up in celebration when EC equalized.

“I can’t jump as quick as I used to,” Britton jokingly said “I jumped as quick and high as I could but I barely left the bench.”

The draw meant an undefeated home record for the Warriors a trip back into the postseason.

“We’re a great team. These guys work for each other they trust each other they have their backs and I feel if they outperform each team we should be able to get results,” assistant coach Ever Morataya said.

The Warriors go into the regional playoffs on a high after such a dominant finish to the regular season.

The last time EC won the state championship was in 1992. The Warriors were knocked out by Santiago Canyon College in the first round of last year’s playoffs. Round 1 of this year’s postseason takes place on Nov. 22.