Diamond Ranch Boys Soccer Ends CIF Bid with Loss to Artesia, 3-1

The Panther boys soccer squad fell Wednesday afternoon to the Artesia Patriots, 3-1, in the second round of CIF playoffs after keeping pace for the first half.

Artesia spoke first with an early goal that awaited the last minute of the half for an answer off of a drive by Panthers senior forward Bryan Chavez.

The Panthers entered the second half energized after Chavez's goal and kept the Artesia defense busy with the challenge of three early shots on net.

Diamond Ranch goalkeeper Jeff Stamp made two diving saves on Artesia attempts midway through the second half and Artesia was stopped by the whistle on two plays that had some momentum toward the Panther goal.

A near breakaway was blocked by a tackle from Panthers midfielder Steven Bautista that earned Bautista a yellow card, and an offsides call stopped play on a high-lofted and well-placed Artesia pass that landed in range of the Panther net.

Momentum continued to build for the Patriots and traffic around the Panther net led to a high header from Artesia's Alejandro Martinez that dropped in behind Stamp to put Artesia up 2-1.

"It's just kind of one of those games that slips through your fingers," Panthers head coach Shaun Fernandez said.

Artesia continued to put the pressure on through the end of the second half, scoring again on a hard shot from close range, setting the final score of 3-1.

The game put an end to Diamond Ranch's CIF bid at the same point as last year's team, but Fernandez said the team will stay strong with a lot of returning players.

The Panthers will lose 11 of 21 players, including goalkeepers Jeff Stamp and Alex Bautista, to graduation, but Fernandez said the team will keep a good core group going into next season.

"Sometimes the ball just doesn't bounce your way," Fernandez said, "and today it didn't bounce ours."