Sports notebook: Local soccer players earn all-league honors

Bits and pieces from the local sports scene.

FIRST-TEAM HONORS FOR BURBANK, BURROUGHS

For the Burbank High girls’ soccer team, it easily rolled to a berth in the CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs, securing third place in the Pacific League.

It was a little more difficult for Burroughs to qualify for the postseason, but the Indians accomplished the feat by placing fourth in league.

For their efforts, both squads landed players on the All-Pacific League first team. Earning a spot on the list was Indians senior defender Kristin Masuzumi, who was joined by Burbank sophomore forward Kira Bochard and freshman Ryan Verhoeven.

“It’s awesome that we’re able to get two first-teamers in there,” said Burbank Coach Eric Montoya, whose squad went 11-7-1, 11-3 in league. “I think we had a couple more first-teamers who could have made it, but that’s what happens when you finish third.”

Earning second-team honors were Burbank freshman midfielder Adrianne Sarukhanyan and Burroughs junior midfielder Brianna Castillo. Honorable mention went to Indians sophomore center back Delila Varela and Bulldogs sophomore goalkeeper Nicole Winters.

Bochard and Verhoeven were Burbank’s most potent offensive weapons. Bochard led the team with 20 goals to go along with nine assists and Verhoeven led the team with 19 assists and scored 11 goals.

“Kira has come a long way since her freshman year and I think she was one of the better forwards in the league this season,” Montoya said. “I think she had the most goals in league this season.

“Then you have Ryan, who’s a freshman, and this kid is going to be special. She was unselfish this season and she didn’t take a lot of the scoring opportunities she had, because, being a freshman, I think she wanted to dish it off instead. Being a freshman coming into high school you just want to please everybody else.”

Masuzumi was a four-year player and a two-time first-team all-league honoree for Burroughs (7-14-2, 7-6-1). She was a defensive stalwart in the back for the Indians.

“Despite missing the last three games of the season due to injury, Kristin’s on-the-field leadership, hard-nosed tackles and relentless effort anchored one of the best defenses in the league,” Burroughs Coach Brady Riggs said.

AGUILAR LONE ALL-LEAGUE FIRST-TEAMER

It was a tough season for the Burroughs High and Burbank boys’ soccer teams, as neither for the CIF Southern Section Division III playoffs.

As a result, just one local player was an All-Pacific League first-team selection. That player was Indians senior midfielder Andres Aguilar.

Earning spots on the second team were Indians senior midfielder VJ Salizar and Bulldogs junior defender Patrick Lance. Honorable mentions went to Burroughs senior defender Alberto Rodriguez and Burbank sophomore utility Gianluca Vitagliano.

Salizar was tied for second on the team with 13 points, tallying four goals and five assists.

“We had Andres do a lot of things for us,” said Burroughs Coach Mike Kodama, whose team went 8-8-6, 5-5-4 in league and finished fifth, one place out of an automatic playoff berth. “He played in the back, he played in the middle and he even played up top for us. He was always willing to do whatever we asked of him.

“He was just a calm presence for us and he really settled things down when he was in there. He has so much skill and presence that he really made it hard on other teams.

Salizar tied with Aguilar with 13 points and an identical four goals and five assists. Lance played in the back for the Bulldogs, ending with two goals and two assists. Rodriguez helped shore up Burroughs’ defense, while Vitagliano played “every position except goalie,” said Burbank Coach Loi Phan, whose team finished 3-13-2, 2-10-2.

PIONEER NAMED ALL-LEAGUE

Although just a freshman, Milena Mooradian was a solid performer this past season for the Providence High girls’ soccer team.

For her contributions, Mooradian, who was a midfielder and forward, was named to the All-Independence League first team.

“I don’t have stats for her, but I can tell you that she is a great player with natural talent,” Pioneers Coach Jose Aguilar said. “She is one of the best players I saw this past season.”

Providence finished 8-4-1 after placing second in the Independence League. The Pioneers lost in a CIF Southern Section Division VII wild-card match against St. Mary’s Academy, 5-1.