Diamond Bar eliminated in first round after clinching playoffs
Following on-and-off performances during the beginning of the season, the boys soccer team turned the season around, ending league play in second place.
With the loss of key offensive players due to injury, the team initially had trouble getting the ball in the back of the net. Oftentimes, the team’s strikers took too many touches on the ball in an attempt to get the right angle on the goal, which led to loss of possession.
“Once we got close to the goal, we needed to stop overcomplicating things and just shoot,” junior defender Jacob Toohey said.
The team’s failure to finish the ball was evident in the team’s early 4-0 loss to Rowland and 2-1 loss to Los Altos.
“I am happy with the effort, but we let two games slip away, which cost us the division,” head coach Pete Orosco said.
Through hard work and a better understanding of each other’s playing styles, the boys rebounded from the two previous setbacks, managing to pull away with wins against Wilson, South Hills and Walnut. The boys made up for previous losses the second time around, tying Rowland 1-1 and beating Los Altos in a 2-1 match.
After tasting success, the boys slipped up in their second-to-last game against South Hills, failing to put the ball in the goal and control the midfield. Their 3-0 loss placed them in a dangerous situation, requiring them to beat Walnut to qualify for CIF.
“Our division had a lot of parity, so every game mattered,” Orosco said. “Last game [Walnut] had nothing to lose, but we did.”
It was a tough game for the Brahmas, but the boys gave it everything they had, and ultimately walked away with a 1-0 victory and a spot in the CIF playoffs.
However, in the first round of CIF last Tuesday against Cate High School, they failed to capitalize on their opportunities. Despite their control of the ball during the game, offensive struggles led to the team losing in a heartbreaking 1-0 nailbiter.
The boys ended the season with an overall record of 9-8-2 and a league record of 6-3-1.
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