Perez Looms Large in Plans of Burroughs : Boys’ soccer: Indians on verge of first section title thanks to senior’s knack for making the big play.

The day the laughter died. . . . Burroughs High freshman Roberto Perez, all 4-foot-11, maybe 100 pounds of him stepped onto the soccer field to play in his first varsity match at a December, 1990, holiday tournament.

“He was so small,” Coach Mike Kodama recalled. “The other team was laughing.”

The chuckles stopped by the time the match had wound down to penalty kicks, and Perez stepped up and calmly drilled his shot into the net.

“He put it away like it was second nature,” Kodama said. “Even then, you could see the power in his shot and his vision for the game.”

Turns out the joke was on the Indians’ opponents. Perez, now a 5-7, 130-pound senior, has capped an excellent career by leading Burroughs to its first Southern Section final.

The Indians (15-6-3) will play Bell Gardens tonight at 6 at Gahr High for the Division III championship.

Perez’s achievements belie his physical stature. He is always one of the smallest players on the field, but there is no one more dangerous.

He has scored seven goals in Burroughs’ four playoff victories, including the decisive goal in two of the matches. He has 17 goals and a school-record 55 in his career.

“Roberto is a clutch player,” Kodama said. “He senses that we’re really close (to a championship), and when it comes time to make the big plays, he’s making them.”

One might expect such a performance from an All-American, as Perez was named by a national preseason poll of coaches. He was the only area player selected to the 50-man team.

One might not expect such a performance from someone who looks as about as imposing as a ball boy.

“Since I’m not the biggest guy on the team, I have to work around the field,” Perez said. “I try to work one-on-one on the outside. I like to go where there’s open space.”

His strategy works. The two-time Foothill League player of the year picks his spots, laying off larger opponents much of the time--”like Wayne Gretzky,” Kodama says--then exploding with a creative run or pass that often ends in a Burroughs goal.

He is an extremely skilled ballhandler and passer as evidenced by his nine assists, and he possesses a surprisingly powerful shot. He also has carte blanche from Kodama.

“He doesn’t have a position,” Kodama said. “He has the run of the field. He’s one of those unusual players to whom you just say: ‘Find an opening.’ ”

Perez will end his accolade-laden high school career today, but he longs for one last achievement.

“We’ve won league three times,” Perez said. “And I hope we win (a Southern Section title). That’s the one I want.”

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The Grant girls’ soccer team will meet San Pedro in the City Section championship match at noon today at Birmingham High.

The Lancers (11-3-2), who lost to Chatsworth by one goal in last season’s championship match, face a big, physical San Pedro team that this week handed Chatsworth its first loss to a City team since play began in 1989.

Grant is led by Nicole Bucciarelli (43 goals) and goalie Kristin Kiley-Boynton (10 shutouts).