Bailey, Gonzalez earn All-CIF first-team honors for Burroughs soccer
Lauryn Bailey and Manny Gonzalez continue to rewrite the record books for their respective Burroughs High soccer programs.
While Bailey has put up impressive numbers for the Indians girls’ team, Gonzalez has done the same for the boys’ squad.
Now, the pair have something else in common following impressive junior seasons — both were named as All-CIF first-team selections after the CIF office released its honorees for all seven divisions Monday.
Bailey was honored on the Division IV team and Gonzalez earned the accolade on the boys’ side.
“Anytime you earn an All-CIF honor it’s a big thing,” said Burroughs boys’ coach Mitchell Kodama, who look over for his father, Mike, during the 2019-20 season. “It’s also a great honor for the program as well.”
It is the second straight season that Golzelez has been named All-CIF.
Gonzalez and Bailey made the All-CIF teams despite Burroughs not winning a league championship and losing in the first round of the playoffs for the boys’ and girls’ squads.
“Usually, when you do well in the playoffs you get recognized with being named All-CIF,” said Mike Kodama, whose players have earned 36 All-CIF awards over the years. “But Manny had a great season and you just can’t overlook what he did.”
Gonzalez, a forward, scored 26 goals during the 2019-20 campaign, setting a new mark for goals in a season. He also tallied 23 goals in Pacific League play, earning another Indians record. With one season still to go, Gonzalez holds the Burroughs all-time career goals mark with 60.
“He had an excellent year and he really deserves this,” Mitchell Kodama said. “He broke quite a handful of records for us and that just shows what kind of success he was able to have.
“In games, he’s always willing to do what is best for the team, and not just for himself. He’s always willing to make a pass to a teammate if that is needed, instead of just taking it for himself.”
Burroughs finished 12-4-2 and was 10-2-2 for 32 points to finish second behind champion Pasadena (11-1-2 for 35 points) in the Pacific League. In the CIF Southern Section Division III playoffs, the Indians fell in the first round to Montebello, 4-1.
On the girls’ side, Burroughs (13-5-2, 10-3-1 in league) placed third in the Pacific League behind champion Arcadia and runner-up Crescenta Valley. The Indians lost in the first round of the Division IV playoffs on the road against Hacienda Heights Wilson, 4-1.
“I think actually Lauryn probably deserved it as well last season and she didn’t get it,” Burroughs girls’ coach Brady Riggs said. “So, I’m excited for her that she was recognized this year for her accomplishments.
“Her and Lily [Gonzalez] had almost identical stats, and I’m a little disappointed that Lily wasn’t recognized as well. But that tales nothing away from what Lauryn was able to accomplish. ... Lauryn is really good at seeing the game and making the right adjustments.”
Bailey, a forward, has been instrumental in the Indians’ success the last few seasons. Burroughs won the league championship two seasons ago. She scored 24 goals and had 11 assists this past season. In three seasons, Bailey has 66 career goals, a school record among both programs.
“Lauryn has more career goals than Manny, and that’s really saying something,” Riggs said. “She has the most career goals of anyone in the history of Burroughs, boy or girl. That is pretty outrageous.”
Lily Gonzalez finished with 23 goals and 14 assists.