Seniors Ahmed Mohammed and Jason Chiorean combined for five first-half goals to lead Branham to a 5-0 victory over host Del Mar in a Blossom Valley Athletic League Santa Teresa Division boys soccer match Monday afternoon. The Bruins (7-4-4, 5-2-2, 17 points BVAL-ST) scored all of their goals in the first 20 minutes to put the match out of reach for the Dons (2-7-5, 2-6-1, 7). With the victory, the Bruins pulled to within two points of second-place Leland (7-6-1, 6-2-1, 19), which tied Andrew Hill, 2-2. The top two teams in the BVAL-ST receive automatic bids into the CCS playoffs.
Mohammed put Branham on the board in the third minute when he stole a pass deep in Del Mar territory, dribbled the ball down the left side of the penalty area and slotted the ball to the far post to make it 1-0. In the sixth minute, Chiorean increased the lead when he took a short pass from senior forward Daniel Flores and launched a left-footed shot from 25 yards out to the upper left corner to make it 2-0.
Chiorean, who made his return to the Branham lineup after suffering a strained groin that kept him out of action for the past five games, then headed in a long throw-in from senior Kyle Shikashio to make it 3-0 in the ninth minute.
In the 11th minute, the Bruins struck again as Mohammed fed a through ball down the right side to senior Daniel Trout, who fired a shot from the right corner of the box. The Del Mar goalkeeper made an outstanding save, but the rebound landed at the feet of Mohammed, who tapped in the rebound to make it 4-0.
Mohammed completed his hat trick in the 20th minute when he took a short pass from junior Cole Elliott and hit a hard shot from six yards out to make it 5-0.
Both teams are back in action Thursday afternoon (3:15 pm) as Branham visits Live Oak and Del Mar hosts first-place Evergreen Valley.
