The Bakersfield Brigade, Bakersfield’s own Premier Development (PDL) Soccer Team, blanked out the Gauchos at home and kept their playoff hopes very much alive.

The Brigade needed only one half to seal a victory over the San Diego Gauchos. The Brigade opened up the scoring in the 15th minute of play when staring Midfielder and Team Captain, Leonid Sharf, lit up the score with a well executed penalty shot that ripped the back of the San Diego net to put the Brigade up 1 nil. Three minutes later in the 18th minute of play, Brigade leading scorer, Lyle Martin, fired in his team leading 6th goal past a diving Gauchos Goal Keeper to put the Brigade up by 2. Brigade Forward, Lyle Martin, sealed the Brigade victory in the 44th minute of play when he navigated his way past the San Diego Defense and found the back of the Gauchos net. Kyle Renish, Brigade staring goal keeper, took care of the rest by blanking out the San Diego offense with 6 saves and recording his second shutout game of the season.

The victory leaves the Brigade with a 6-6 record and keeps their playoff hopes alive. The Brigade travels South for a two game road trip against the Los Angeles Storm (July 15) and Orange County Blue Star (July 16) before returning home to face the California Gold on Saturday July 8th to close out their home schedule.

The Brigade is a PDL soccer team, playing within the United Soccer Leagues’ PDL Southwestern Conference, which is made up of 9 teams throughout California.