Boys soccer win over Diamond Bar could come at a cost

Claremont High School boys soccer upset undefeated Diamond Bar, 3-0 Tuesday in Diamond Bar. With the win, the Pack and the Brahmas are now tied for first place in the Palomares League.

The win was particularly sweet, as Diamond Bar had soundly defeated Claremont two weeks ago at CHS.

Claremont played a very good game, according to CHS Athletic Director Rick Dutton. The Pack went ahead early on a goal from senior Patrick Luevano, which forced Diamond Bar to move players forward in hopes of scoring.

Unfortunately for the Brahmas, they concentrated too much on playing offense, which left their defense vulnerable and Claremont was able to capitalize two more times on goals from Ozzie Lopez and Julian Bravo.

A bench clearing fight that may have lasting implications for both teams marred a night of exciting play.

Claremont senior Nick Loeffler was dribbling the ball when Diamond Bar’s Mohamad Abboushi fouled him from behind, according to coach Fred Bruce-Oliver. When Loeffler confronted Abboushi, the entire Diamond Bar bench, and many Claremont players, entered the fray.

Officials were able to restore calm. However, apparently the referee told both players verbally they were out of the game, but never flashed a red card, which is a breach of protocol, according to coach Bruce-Oliver.

The red card is not the first for Loeffler and he may not be able to play out the season pending notification from CIF officials.

Tuesday’s victory comes on the heels of a nail-biter last Thursday when the Pack squeaked past Ayala 3-2.

In this game, the Bulldogs were up 2-0 early in the second half and abruptly sat back into a defensive mode. Claremont went on the attack and was able to score shortly after on a goal from Jonah Evans.

Down 2-1, it looked dire for the Pack until the final minute when Luevano got a stunning goal, forcing the game into overtime.

The game-winning goal came with some controversy as Ayala complained that Claremont sophomore Kevyn Lopez was offside when he scored. However, officials let the goal stand and the victory was sealed.

Claremont’s record is now, 7-1 in league and 14-4-2 overall. The Pack has two more games before the start of CIF and will have to match or better their performance against the Brahmas to take the league title.

Both Claremont and Diamond Bar will have to get past third-ranked Glendora as league play draws to a close next week.

Girls soccer hangs tough in 1-0 win

About halfway through the girls varsity soccer game on Tuesday coach Tim Tracey was ready to call foul on the number of fouls coming from the referee. Coach Tracey even drew a yellow card himself as he complained a bit too vociferously to just let the girls play.

In the end, it was a foul from Claremont’s rival, Diamond Bar, that set up a free kick and the game’s only goal, as the Pack defeated the visiting Brahmas 1-0 in Palomares League action.

Junior Katie Weaver drew that crucial foul, about twenty yards in front of the Brahmas net, and sent sizzler over the goalkeepers reach and into the net’s right corner.

The night’s biggest news came from La Verne where undefeated South Hills topped Bonita 3-0, guaranteeing the Huskies the league title.

Claremont will end the season in undisputed second place, which will be good enough to get a CIF tournament berth.

—Steven Felschundneff

steven@claremont-courier.com