Burroughs High soccer starts summer with win over rival Crescenta Valley
BURBANK — It’s been nearly four months since the Burroughs High and Crescenta Valley boys’ soccer teams battled for the Pacific League championship.
PHOTOS: CV vs. Burroughs boys’ soccer
While some players have since graduated, the returners from both squads wasted little time getting reacquainted when the Indians and Falcons met Wednesday in a Burroughs summer league contest.
Burroughs received a big effort from Ashot Veisyan, who finished with one goal and one assist to propel the Indians to a 3-0 victory at Luther Middle School.
“I felt good coming in because I know a lot of their players,” said Veisyan, who had a first-half assist and then scored in the second half. “I’m just trying to work more on playing physical and positioning.
“It’s good to get back at it.”
Burroughs captured the league championship last season. Crescenta Valley finished third. The two programs have combined to win the last six league crowns with each winning three.
Both teams played their first summer match and the Indians appeared more refreshed Wednesday.
The Indians took a 1-0 lead in the 33rd minute. Veisyan made a nice pass just inside the box to Diego Galaviz, who lined a shot inside the right post.
Crescenta Valley had several quality scoring opportunities during stretches of the opening half. Jason Winicki had a 35-yard shot punched aside by Burroughs goalkeeper Jordan Morgan in the 19th minute. Winicki later headed a corner kick by Joshua Moran just wide of the left post in the 26th minute.
Crescenta Valley Coach Grant Clark, who piloted the Falcons to a CIF Southern Section Division V championship in 2012, said Crescenta Valley created enough scoring chances to either tie or take the lead in the first half.
“The first part of the game was a little rough,” Clark said. “Then the last 10-15 minutes, we started to get a flow going.
“We’re going to use the summer to find lineup combinations. It’s mostly about practice and preparation.”
Veisyan gave the Indians a 2-0 lead in the 43rd minute off an assist from Ethan Diego.
Burroughs closed out the scoring in the 62nd minute on a goal by Mitchell Kodama.
Burroughs assistant coach Oscar Sanchez said he was eager to see how the Indians would match up with the rival Falcons.
“Everybody was pretty pumped up getting to play against them,” Sanchez said. “It’s going to be a process for us throughout the summer in trying to work on different things.
“We are going to try to move the ball as quickly as possible. We don’t want to hold on to the ball too long. I’m happy for Ashot. He’s your typical striker and he knows how to score. We want to get him to work on when to shoot and when to distribute the ball.”
Morgan finished with nine saves, including five in the second half.
Crescenta Valley goalkeeper Chris Mardiroussian, a senior, made six first-half saves. Reserve goalkeeper Vache Sarkissian had three saves in the second half for the Falcons.
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Follow Charles Rich on Twitter: @TCNCharlesRich.