Season ends with first round exit
BOYS SOCCER After tying for first place in the Palomares League, the Brahmas were eliminated by the Beckman Patriots in the team’s opening playoff game.
February 25, 2016
The Diamond Bar High School varsity boys soccer team’s CIF run was stopped short on Friday after a 1-0 loss in the first round of the playoffs against Beckman High School Patriots. A goal from the Patriots in the final seconds of the game ended the Brahmas’ season with 17-3-6 overall record.
Prior to the CIF playoffs, the Brahmas were tied for first place in the Palomares League with Claremont High School, with a record of 9-1. Out of the nine wins, they dominated the race with five shutouts, including a 5-0 win against the Ayala High School Bulldogs. The sole loss was a 3-0 loss against Claremont High School, after having beaten the team in a prior, non-conference game.
“Our playoff division is unbelievably deep.” head coach Kemp Wells said before Friday’s game. “There are no breaks. … We need to capitalize on every opportunity and play every moment like it will be our last since it very well may be our last game.”
Senior forward/midfielder Bryan Becerra led the season with 14 goals, and seniors forwards Tony di Donato and Mohamad Abboushi followed with 11 and 10 goals, respectively. Senior midfielder/forward Mortaza Lutfy led the team with seven assists, and di Donato and Becerra followed with five each.
But in this year’s team, it wasn’t only the forwards that put all the points on the board. A balance in scoring distribution among the team’s players and positions was a key characteristic in the squad, according to Wells. Although no player came close to scoring over 20 goals as in last year’s team, more players in different positions have scored goals during the season. As a defender, senior Connor Donohue scored six goals, and senior defender/midfielder Bruno Gamboa scored five.
According to Wells, a major focus of the team was on taking advantage of scoring opportunities. Although the Brahmas have generated many scoring chances during the season, usually more than their opposing teams, finishing on the chances was an area that needed improvement.
“We didn’t win CIF, but I think overall we had a great season. You have to take the positives out of things and I think going 17-3-6 is excellent for us,” Abboushi said.
