Second-half blitz propels Burroughs girls’ soccer to second
BURBANK – A city rivalry romp for the Burroughs High girls’ soccer team secured the squad its best Pacific League finish in seven seasons.
The visiting Indians scored six second-half goals and walloped crosstown rival Burbank, 7-0, in the regular season finale for both schools.
With the victory, the Indians finished with a 14-2-3, 9-1-2 mark in league to take second place behind Arcadia (10-0-2 in league) and ahead of Crescenta Valley (8-2-2). The Indians will begin the CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs next week.
Burroughs’ runner-up status is the best for the program since the 2010-11 season when the Indians trailed only Crescenta Valley.
“We only lost one game by a goal [in league],” Burroughs coach Brady Riggs said. “We had a great season. The Arcadias and CVs of the world, they’re the giants of this league and we stood toe-to-toe with them this year and we gave them everything they wanted.
“We beat CV and tied them and we lost to Arcadia by a goal and tied them. There’s nobody better than us in this league.”
Burroughs closed out a difficult season for Burbank (1-13-2, 0-10-2) thanks to a well-rounded effort.
Senior forward Catrina Villalpando paced her squad with one goal and three assists, while Samantha Avendano added two goals and one assist, sophomore Ava Kramer scored two goals, freshman Lauryn Bailey chipped in one goal and two assists, Megan Rangel-Lynch tallied a score and Abbie Riggs contributed an assist.
“Finishing second place in league is amazing,” Villalpando said. “In my four years on this team, we’ve never done that well and I don’t know the last time this team has done that well. It’s awesome and I’m hoping we can go far in CIF.”
Burbank was competitive with Burroughs and was only down, 1-0, at halftime after a goal in the 16th minute from Villalpando thanks to an assist from Riggs.
The Indians picked up their play in the second half and struck quickly with Avendano netting goals in the 41st and 46th minutes off assists from Bailey as Burroughs roared ahead, 3-0.
The Indians iced the game with a similar flurry with a goal in the 60th minute from Kramer followed by another Kramer score in the 63rd minute as the visitors jumped ahead, 5-0. Both of Kramer’s goals were assisted by Villalpando.
Burroughs delivered the knockout blow with a goal from Rangel-Lynch in the 72nd minute off an assist from Villalpando before Bailey sneaked in the final goal in stoppage time off an assist from Avendano.
“It’s great to get this win because we got them the first time at our place (4-0) and now it’s even better to win here,” Avendano said. “We needed this for the playoffs. I think we’re meshing really well and I think we have a good chance.”
Twitter: @campadresports
