Six Burroughs girls’ soccer players named all-league
One of its most successful seasons in decades was enjoyed by the Burroughs High girls’ soccer team.
One of the squad’s finest accomplishments was placing second in the Pacific League, losing just one match in the process and finishing three points behind champion Arcadia.
For their efforts, six Indians were honored with All-Pacific League selections, including three on the first team. Burbank had two players earn all-league accolades.
Earning spots on the first team for the Indians were freshman forward Lauryn Bailey, junior midfielder Abbie Riggs and senior midfielder Maddy Sena.
Burroughs senior forward Catrina Villalpando and junior defender Emily McHorney, along with Burbank senior forward Alexia Muller, were named to the second team.
Indians senior Anna Kasper and Bulldogs junior Jessica Rocha were honorable mention.
Adding to the accolades was Indians coach Brady Riggs earning Pacific League Coach of the Year.
Burroughs went 15-3-3, 9-1-2 in the Pacific League, with its lone league setback a 1-0 loss to Arcadia. The Indians won a CIF Southern Section Division IV wild-card match against Brentwood, 1-0, before losing in the first round to Aliso Niguel, 4-0.
“From our perspective, it’s the best year we have had in recent memory,” coach Riggs said. “If I could coach this exact group of girls for the rest of my career, I would.
“I can’t say enough about our seniors and the leadership on this team.”
Bailey had a breakout season in her first year with the Indians, leading the team in goals with 18 to go with five assists.
“Despite her youth, she played with incredible poise and maturity, scoring big goals for us all season,” Brady Riggs said. “She was able to step into a team that was already cohesive and make it even stronger with her offensive contributions.”
Abbie Riggs proved to be a force on offense as well as defense for Burroughs. Voted the team’s most valuable player, Riggs had eight goals along with 20 assists.
“She was very good at connecting the defense and offense from central midfield,” Brady Riggs said. “Not only does she score goals and create offensive opportunities, she plays excellent defense, takes most of the set pieces and is a leader in the field.”
Sena (two assists) was a stalwart and a steadying force in the midfield for the Indians.
“Maddy Sena has no glaring offensive stats, but her importance to the team was monumental,” Brady Riggs said. “Her ability to dominate the game as the only holding midfielder on the field freed up Abbie and Olivia Cashman to focus on offense. Her ability to anticipate play allowed her to frustrate and stymie the opposition’s counter-attacks while beginning the attack for the offense.”
Villalpando was second for the Indians in goals and assists with 10 and nine, respectively. McHorney had three goals and three assists.
Kasper had four goals and two assists.
Burbank went 1-13-2 overall and was 0-10-2 in the Pacific League, finishing seventh.
Twitter: @jefftsports
