Bell Gardens Blankets Perez, Defeats Burroughs for Title : Boys’ soccer: Indians’ scoring star held to a single shot on goal during 3-1 loss in Southern Section Division III championship match.

The Burroughs High boys’ soccer team made its first appearance in the Southern Section Division III finals Saturday, but the Indians didn’t take home the championship plaque.

They lost, 3-1, to Bell Gardens in a physical game at Gahr High that included four yellow cards.

Burroughs, which went into the match with a 12-game winning streak, ended the season with a 16-6-2 record. Bell Gardens, winner of three Southern Section championships, finished at 21-5-3.

The Lancers came out with a simple but effective plan: cover Burroughs star scorer Roberto Perez like a blanket.

The senior had seven goals in four playoff games and a total of 17 this season. He also has a school career record 55.

“Our game plan was to keep No. 13 (Perez) off the ball as much as possible,” Bell Gardens Coach Orlando Brenes said. “We did it and it worked.”

At times Perez was double- and triple-teamed. He took only one shot in the entire match, with about two minutes left to play.

“Everytime I had the ball I had at least two guys on me,” Perez said.

“They played great defense. They really have a great team. They were tough.”

Bell Gardens’ Gustavo Garita scored the match’s first goal at the 47:08 mark.

The junior defender scored the Lancers’ goal in overtime in the Southern Section semifinals against Harvard-Westlake.

On Saturday he dribbled past three Burroughs players inside the penalty box and drilled the shot from the left side.

About three minutes later, the Lancers’ Jamie Olivarez took almost the same shot to give his team a 2-0 lead.

Senior midfielder Gret Guenther scored the Indians’ only goal at 59:41. Bell Gardens goalie Luis Ayala jumped up to save a shot taken by Burroughs’ Juan Hernandez. When he landed and threw the ball down with both hands, Guenther kicked it in from the left corner.

“He was kind of falling so all I had to do was keep going and put it in,” Guenther said.

With less than two minutes left in the game, senior defender Robert Arredondo scored on a penalty kick, after Burroughs was called for a handball.

“We knew both teams would get chances to score, but the difference is they finished up the opportunities,” Burroughs Coach Mike Kodama said. “We expected them to cover (Perez) but we were hoping that would create space for other guys.”

Kodama said it was exciting to have made it one step further in the playoffs this year. Last season the Indians, winners of three consecutive Foothill League titles, lost in the semifinals.

“I’m really proud,” he said. “This was not expected of this team. It’s amazing we got this far.”