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Burroughs boys’ soccer knocks Burbank out of playoffs

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BURBANK — Having already clinched second place in the Pacific League and a return to the playoffs after missing out a season ago, the Burroughs High boys’ soccer team had nothing to play for when it took on Burbank on Thursday, or at least nothing in terms of the league standings.

That wasn’t the case for the Bulldogs, who desperately needed a win against their cross-town rivals to secure an automatic playoff spot and their first postseason appearance in five years.

Although Burbank was able to keep the score close through one half, the Indians came on in the second half, keyed by two goals from Anton Prather, to earn a 4-0 victory at Memorial Field.

“The motivation our guys had was because it was Burbank-Burroughs,” Burroughs Coach Mike Kodama said. “Our guys have a lot of pride and they are preparing for the playoffs and they really came to play. I am obviously very pleased with our effort.”

Burbank (7-8-1, 6-7-1 for 19 points) came into the match in fourth place, two points behind Muir. However, the loss, coupled with a 6-0 win by Crescenta Valley (6-5-3 in league for 21 points) over Arcadia, knocked the Bulldogs down to a fifth-place tie with Hoover (6-7-1). Muir (6-5-3 for 21 points) finished tied for third with Crescenta Valley.

Burroughs (13-6-2, 10-3-1 for 31 points) finished the season as runner-up behind champion Pasadena (12-2-1 for 37 points) and will await the playoff parings, which are set to be released Monday.

The win by the Indians did come with a price, however. Burroughs lost starting defender Eli Oliveros and starting forward Jerry Salazar to injury and starting midfielder and throw-in specialist Cameron Kelly drew a red and will have to sit out the team’s next game.

The game got chippy, especially in the second half, and both teams combined to draw five yellow cards and two reds, one for each side.

Burbank, which defeated Burroughs, 1-0, in the teams’ first meeting Jan. 22, was trying to earn a sweep against its rival for the first time in at least 25 years. Despite the loss, the Bulldogs – with two league wins in 2015 and one in 2014 — improved this season and their league win total was its highest since 2009.

“Our guys came in knowing the significance of the game,” Burbank Coach Loi Phan said. “They knew it was a huge game. I told them if they win they will jump up to third and if they lose they will be out of the playoffs. We were fighting to get to the playoffs, and we hadn’t been there in awhile.

“But our guys fought hard. We had to shuffle some guys in some positions and they did a good job out there.”

In the 28th minute, William Rosales scored to give Burroughs a 1-0 lead.

The Indians wasted little time adding to their advantage in the second half when Prather scored two minutes in on an assist by Ari Arango.

Burbank had a scoring chance in the 49th minute when Patrick Lance missed wide left on a header off a free kick.

Prather made it 3-0 with a score in the 58th minute when Burbank goalkeeper Andrew Hank couldn’t cover up on a shot from Indian Topli Petko.

Efrain Perez finished off the scoring with a goal in the final two minutes on an assist from Nicky Reinoso.

“We knew it was going to be a good game and we didn’t want to give them any kind of an edge,” Prather said. “We just wanted to come out and play hard and I think we had a good effort today.”

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