In a tight game with the playoff picture hanging in the balance, the Warriors relied on its defense as they shutdown the leading scorer in the state.

“Our defense played lights out,” Nolan Dean, goalkeeper, said. “I think this was the best defensive game we played all season.”

The Warriors went on to win the game 1-0 improving its record to 7-6-4 and (5-3-2) in the conference play.

“It was a very close game; both teams were competitive and striving for the victory,” John Britton, coach, said.

This is the fifth time this season that the Warriors shut out a team.

Towards the end of the game, Claudio Rodriguez, forward, scored the team’s only goal.

“Claudio had a nice shot at the corner of the goal when there was only 10 minutes left in the game,” Dean said.

Assistant coach Andrew Britton thought the team played as a unit.

“It was a total team effort; everyone worked their socks off to get this win and we deserved it,” Britton said.

Dean said he praises his coaching staff for their defensive tactics.

“Our coach (Ever Morotoya) has been working in practice to develop our defense formation and shape,” Dean said.

“They (the defense) no longer work as individuals, they function as a unit now,” John Britton said.

Andrew Britton said he thinks the teams’ defense has come a long way.

“As a unit they have grown; they know each others’ strengths and weakness, I think they are able to play better because of that,” Andrew Britton said.

“They communicate a lot better now,” Andrew Britton said. “At the beginning of the season they didn’t.”

What helped the Warriors clinch a playoff birth was knocking off some of the big teams in the conference and state games.

The Warriors have had impressive wins against some of the top teams in the state and in the conference like Mt. San Antonio College twice, Cerritos and most recently Harbor College.

“Beating these top teams is what got us to the playoffs,” Dean said.

The Warriors are looking forward to making the playoffs, since it’s their first time in seven years.

“It felt relived everyone was happy,” Dean said. “I’m 95 percent sure this win should put us into the playoffs.”

The Warriors are looking to build up its confidence going into the last few weeks of the season.

“Our next game is away against East Los Angeles College,” Andrew Britton said. “We are trying to build off this win.”