Burroughs, Providence boys’ soccer to host CIF openers
After winning league titles, the Burroughs High and Providence boys’ soccer teams have been rewarded with first-round home games for the CIF Southern Section playoffs.
After capturing their first league title in three seasons, the Indians will be at Memorial Field, likely at 5 p.m., Friday for a Division III first-round match against Westminister
The Pioneers, who secured just the second league crown in program history, will host a match Friday, likely at 3 p.m., at Occidental College against a wild-card opponent to be determined.
“The playoffs is a great time and it’s just icing on the cake for your season,” Burroughs Coach Mike Kodama said. “We’re excited about being in the playoffs and it’s always nice to get a home game for the first round.
“With the exception of one guy, we finally have all of our team back. It’s really the first time we’ve had almost our full team back since December. ... The boys have been playing well and we have been able to be successful.”
Burroughs (17-4-4) played its best soccer toward the end of the season, going 10-1-1 in its final 12 matches.
The Indians will face a Westminister (8-5-2) squad that placed third in the Golden West League.
“I don’t know anything about them,” Kodama said. “So I guess we will just have to wait and see.”
A win would put Burroughs into a second-round contest Feb. 22 against Estancia (12-8-2; No. 2 in Orange Coast League) or Paso Robles (17-6-1; No. 3 in Pac 8 League).
Providence (7-5) tied for the Independence League championship with Canoga Park Armenian General Benevolent Union, but the Pioneers earned the No. 1 seed from the league. Providence also excelled during league play, going 5-1 after tallying a 2-4 record in nonleague play.
“I know our guys are really looking forward to being in the playoffs and having a home game is really something special for the us,” Providence Coach Ron Neef said. “The guys have worked very hard to get to this point and I think they’re up to the challenge of the playoffs.”
The Pioneers will host the winner of Wednesday’s wild-card matchup between Newbury Park Adventist (5-6-1; No. 2 in Omega League) or Verbum Dei (10-6-2; No. 3 in Santa Fe League).
“I’ve spent some time looking at our possible next opponent and how they’ve done,” Neef said. “It should be a challenge, regardless if it’s Newbury or Verbum Dei.”
If the Pioneers advance, they will play in the second round Feb. 22 and face No. 2 seed Riverside Prep (18-2-4; Cross Valley League champion) or the winner of the wild-card match between Mojave (8-8; No. 2 in Desert Mountain League) and Shalhevet (4-6-1; No. 3 in Mulholland League).
Providence girls’ soccer looks to continue historic season in playoffs Soccer: Pioneers host first-round CIF contest, while Burroughs, Burbank hit road for wild cards. It has been a historic season for the Providence High girls’ soccer team, as the Pioneers captured the program’s first league championship. Providence will be looking to add to that success in the CIF Southern Section playoffs. The Pioneers are joined in the postseason by Burbank and Burroughs. Fresh off winning an Independence League title, the Pioneers will host a Division VII first-round match, likely at 3 p.m. Thursday at Occidental College. Providence will take on the winner of Tuesday’s wild-card contest pitting Ganesha (9-11-2; No. 3 Miramonte League) and Big Bear (11-8-1; No. 4 Cross Valley League). Burroughs will travel to Alemany for a Division IV wild-card contest at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, while Burbank will also hit the road Tuesday for a Division IV wild-card match-up against Mayfield at 3 p.m. at Occidental College. The Pioneers (6-3) went undefeated in league play at 6-0. “The girls’ soccer team is the only team at the school that didn’t have a league championship banner hanging, so when we won that last week, that was a big accomplishment for the girls,” Providence Coach Emma Johnson said. “This team has also never won a playoff game, so we are looking to hopefully change that.” A win by Providence would put it in a second-round contest Feb. 21 against No. 2 seed Rancho Mirage (14-7-2; tied for first in De Anza League) or the winner of the wild-card match between Rancho Alamitos (No. 3 in Garden Grove League) and Fairmont Prep (No. 5 San Joaquin League). “The girls are really excited to be in the playoffs and we’re happy to be playing at home,” Johnson said. “After our last game, I had a pep talk with the team, because I wasn’t happy with the way that they played. “I told them for the playoffs the stakes will be raised and we have to play better. I think that kind of woke them up.” Burroughs (12-8-2) placed third in the Pacific League. It will take on an Alemany (9-8-1) squad that placed third in the Mission League. If the Indians advance, they would play Thursday in a first-round game on the road at Ocean View (10-12-1; tied for first in Golden West League). Burbank (6-9-3), the fourth-place team in the Pacific League, will face a Mayfield (8-6-4) squad that was the runner-up in the Prep League. A win would put the Bulldogs into a first-round match Thursday on the road against Brentwood (13-3-1; Gold Coast League champion). Providence girls’ soccer looks to continue historic season in playoffs Soccer: Pioneers host first-round CIF contest, while Burroughs, Burbank hit road for wild cards. It has been a historic season for the Providence High girls’ soccer team, as the Pioneers captured the program’s first league championship. Providence will be looking to add to that success in the CIF Southern Section playoffs. The Pioneers are joined in the postseason by Burbank and Burroughs. Fresh off winning an Independence League title, the Pioneers will host a Division VII first-round match, likely at 3 p.m. Thursday at Occidental College. Providence will take on the winner of Tuesday’s wild-card contest pitting Ganesha (9-11-2; No. 3 Miramonte League) and Big Bear (11-8-1; No. 4 Cross Valley League). Burroughs will travel to Alemany for a Division IV wild-card contest at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, while Burbank will also hit the road Tuesday for a Division IV wild-card match-up against Mayfield at 3 p.m. at Occidental College. The Pioneers (6-3) went undefeated in league play at 6-0. “The girls’ soccer team is the only team at the school that didn’t have a league championship banner hanging, so when we won that last week, that was a big accomplishment for the girls,” Providence Coach Emma Johnson said. “This team has also never won a playoff game, so we are looking to hopefully change that.” A win by Providence would put it in a second-round contest Feb. 21 against No. 2 seed Rancho Mirage (14-7-2; tied for first in De Anza League) or the winner of the wild-card match between Rancho Alamitos (No. 3 in Garden Grove League) and Fairmont Prep (No. 5 San Joaquin League). “The girls are really excited to be in the playoffs and we’re happy to be playing at home,” Johnson said. “After our last game, I had a pep talk with the team, because I wasn’t happy with the way that they played. “I told them for the playoffs the stakes will be raised and we have to play better. I think that kind of woke them up.” Burroughs (12-8-2) placed third in the Pacific League. It will take on an Alemany (9-8-1) squad that placed third in the Mission League. If the Indians advance, they would play Thursday in a first-round game on the road at Ocean View (10-12-1; tied for first in Golden West League). Burbank (6-9-3), the fourth-place team in the Pacific League, will face a Mayfield (8-6-4) squad that was the runner-up in the Prep League. A win would put the Bulldogs into a first-round match Thursday on the road against Brentwood (13-3-1; Gold Coast League champion).
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Jeff Tully, jeff.tully@latimes.com
Twitter: @jefftsports