Dana Hills Uses Narrow Advantage to Perfection

Not satisfied with winning its first league title in 13 years, the Dana Hills boys’ soccer team rolled into the second round of the Southern Section Division I playoffs with an easy 5-2 victory over feisty Diamond Bar Saturday afternoon at Dana Hills.

“We surprised everybody in [the South Coast] league, so we figured let’s surprise everybody in the playoffs,” said Dana Hills senior goalkeeper Parker Jarvis, whose five saves included stopping a penalty kick in the closing minutes.

The Dolphins (12-7-8) scored three times in the first 32 minutes on their favorite play--the throw-in. Stephen Jennings scored 18 minutes in on a backward header off Rick Eckstein’s throw-in. Jamie Rivera tipped in the second goal on a throw-in that Diamond Bar goalkeeper Zach Snow bobbled and the third goal came when Forrest Smith gathered a deflected throw-in and crossed it to Brian Liebman in front. Smith gave Dana Hills a 4-1 first-half lead when he knocked in a cross from Rivera.

“We were happy we were at home,” Dana Hills Coach Dennis Korinke said. “Our field is narrower and we know we can get it to the keeper from 30 yards in. It helps that [J.P.] LeVeque is 6-4 and Jennings is 6-2.”

Diamond Bar trimmed the lead to 4-2 when Matt Luttrell scored on a deflected free kick in the 49th minute, but Jarvis kept Diamond Bar from getting any closer with four-second half saves. Dana Hills will play at Lawndale Leuzinger, which upset Santa Ana on Friday, in the second round on Tuesday.