The Diamond Bar girls soccer team advanced toward the first round of the CIF playoffs with a 2-1 victory against the Walnut Mustangs on Valentine’s Day. Although the Lady Brahmas struggled through a tough first half, facing the equally aggressive play by the Mustangs, DB was eventually able to gain the lead in the second half.

The Lady Brahmas began with a shaky start, missing many opportunities to score throughout the first half of the match. Passes made by the Lady Brahmas were frequently intercepted and the ball often hovered dangerously around the proximity of the DB net. However, it was again the DB’s defense that saved the Lady Brahmas in the first half of the match.

The defense was an important factor in victory and it was not surprising, considering that it was observed to be DB’s secret weapon throughout the regular season. During league play, the Brahmas scored 22 goals while only giving up 5.

“I think the players battled through a tough first half and put in a good effort in the second half to win the game” coach Matthew Brummett said.

Heading into the second half, the Lady Brahmas’ determination prevailed as juniors Marissa Favela and Angie Puerta each scored a goal. Although the Mustangs attempted to rebound and take charge of the game by making a goal, their offense could not penetrate DB’s defense, ending the match with a Brahma win. In addition to Favela and Puerta, sophomore Sabrina May showed her strength, playing particularly well on defense and contributing with two assists. Some notable players include seniors and co-captains Sabrina Corpus and Lea Kolek, who both proved essential to Lady Brahmas’ victory. With this victory over Walnut, the Lady Brahmas showed their skill once again in this highly successful season.

The Lady Brahmas finished second in the Hacienda League with an overall record of 16-4-3.

“We won a big tournament. We had a great overall record. We also earned a home playoff game in the first round which I am proud of. This season has been a productive one” Brummett commented.

With playoffs underway, the outlook for the Lady Brahmas seems bright. Their strong defense and efficient offense will hopefully take the Lady Brahmas far in the CIF playoffs after defeating Mayfield 2-1 in the first round by a game-winning free kick by Favela. Favela has made a remarkable return from her an illness and is slowly working her way back into her old form of being a superstar.

“In the playoffs, I expect us to give it our all and compete. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if we made a deep run into playoffs. We have a defense that can shut down any great offense” Brummett said.