Burroughs High girls’ soccer takes physical one from Burbank

BURBANK — About all that stood after 80-plus minutes of crosstown rivalry girls’ soccer between Burbank High and host Burroughs at Memorial Field was a 30th-minute goal.

PHOTOS: Burroughs High girls’ soccer wins against Burbank High

Other than that, the Indians and Bulldogs spent much of Friday afternoon’s Pacific League contest hammering each other, while also attacking the opposing nets.

In a contest that included four yellow cards, one penalty kick and several injuries, Burroughs will have a win to soothe its bruises as the Indians topped Burbank, 1-0.

“I’ve seen a lot of cool things in sports and this was one of them,” Indians first-year Coach Brady Riggs said. “We were seriously down starters because of injuries and different girls stepped up and stepped in. This is one of the greatest performances I’ve seen.”

The victory keeps Burroughs in the Pacific League title chase, as the Indians are now 6-6-1 overall and 5-0-1 in league with a road clash with league-leading Arcadia (7-5-1, 6-0) looming next Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.

The defeat pushed Burbank (5-3-3, 3-2-1) into a tie for third with Crescenta Valley (3-7-1, 3-2-1).

Despite being outshot, 18-6, Burroughs netted Friday’s lone goal 10 minutes before halftime off a set piece.

Indians junior Danielle Tilton, a transfer from Mission Viejo, was given a throw-in about 25 yards from the Bulldogs’ goal.

Tilton successfully lobbed a deep pass that bounced once in the box and was whipped in by senior striker Bailey Simmons from six yards out and just out of the range of Bulldogs junior keeper Allison Tiegs (two saves) for the match’s only score.

“[Tilton] just threw the perfect throw and all I was trying to do was to get my head on it,” Simmons said.

The Burroughs goal countered the match’s pace, as the Bulldogs controlled possession throughout and were mostly on the offensive.

For a while, it appeared as if a tying goal was a foregone conclusion, particularly in the 45th minute when the Bulldogs were awarded a penalty kick when a Burbank player went down just inside the 18.

Yet, fortune smiled on Burroughs, as senior forward Dakota Briseno was agonizingly wide left on the penalty try.

The opportunity was hardly the last for Burbank, though, as three minutes later freshman Kira Borchard fired a 20-yard shot that required a running save from Indians goalie Taylor Bailey (six saves).

In the 53rd minute, the Bulldogs came close when a 20-yard direct kick taken by Nicole Winters after another foul, this time outside the penalty area, resulted in a shot that sailed over the crossbar by about five feet.

Seven minutes, a three-player combination play that began with a throw-in from Lauren Brenn ended in a left-to-right shot from Briseno that forced another stop from Bailey.

“This is a tough loss because we just blew it out there. We had so many opportunities and they only had one real shot on goal with a score coming off a throw-in,” Bulldogs Coach Eric Montoya said.

“When you’re given a penalty kick and other set pieces, you have to take advantage and we didn’t.”

Perhaps the most memorable aspect of Friday’s match was the physicality, as players from both sides needed assistance just to walk off the field.

Simmons hobbled off early in the second half, while Indians dynamo Tilton went down in pain in the 72nd minute and had to be helped off the pitch by two coaches.

One of the most signature moments came in the 76th minute when Burroughs’ Kristin Masuzumi slide-tackled Brenn just as Brenn was close-lined by Leslie Villalta about 25 yards from goal.

Two minutes later, Burroughs’ Emma Pineiro hobbled to the sideline with a bloody lower lip after taking an inadvertent forearm to the face from Burbank’s Clarissa Guerrero as both players were battling for possession.

No cards were given nor fouls called initially on the plays.

The injuries eventually led to seven and a half minutes of extra time that included two Indians corner kicks and three total shots during that stretch.

“We were prepared to play however long stoppage time was going to be,” Riggs said. “No one believed that this group of seniors could win this game, let alone win at all this season. They proved a lot today.”