Girls’ soccer team wins championship
Bits and pieces from the local sports scene.
Squad rolls to AYSO Section 10 title: An American Youth Soccer Organization girls’ under-16 team from Burbank won the Section 10 championship Sunday, competing in a region that stretches from Los Angeles and Ventura counties to Fresno.
More than 1,500 Burbank children participate in the local AYSO program each year. Organized in two-year age divisions along gender lines, the championship team, Burbank One, includes 16 local girls 14 and 15 years old.
Burbank One was crowned champion of the San Fernando Valley area in late October, earning the right to compete in the section championships, held November 13-14 in Visalia.
The area squad was the only team in its division to win every game in the tournament, posting five victories with wins against teams from Woodland Hills, Agoura Hills, Paso Robles and Quartz Hill.
The championship match against Agoura Hills was won in dramatic fashion. The teams battled to a scoreless tie through the first half, with Burbank goalkeeper Andrea Reyes turning back several shots on goal.
Burbank scored twice early in the second half to take a 2-0 lead. As the match drew to a close, Agoura Hills fought back and tied the score at 2 with two goals.
With overtime periods looming and the momentum seemingly with Agoura Hills, Burbank’s right-midfielder Vanessa Amaya delivered a booming cross into the penalty area that took a high bounce. The Agoura goalkeeper left her line to take the ball out of the air, but Burbank’s left-midfielder, Juliana Marx, headed the ball over the keeper and into the net with 15 seconds left.
Schedule constraints with the local high school soccer season preclude any advancement for Burbank One to move on to state or national competition, making the section championship the highest level of achievement for AYSO players in this age group.
Along with Coach Matt Ziemer and assistants Carlos Morales and David Cain, the Burbank team includes Hayley Scully, Juliana Marx, Michelle Morales, Alex Lopez, Andrea Reyes, Caitlin Markey, Angela Ziemer, Kelly Arrue, Alex Johnson, Lorena Nava, Vanessa Amaya, Ayla Lemus, Olivia Cain, Hayley Woolsey and Dana Clarino.
Vikings teams alive in playoffs: A group of teams from the Burbank Vikings Youth Tackle Football program are still alive in the playoffs after wins Nov. 13.
Getting wins last week to advance was the Senior Green, which defeated Simi, 22-12 , Junior Gold, which trounced Agoura, 40-8, Junior Green, which downed Simi Red, 36-32, Midget Green, which beat Canyon Gold, 27-12, and Bantam Green, which shut out Castaic Blue. 22-0.
Losing in playoff games were the Midget Black against the Santa Clarita Warriors, 42-12, Bantam Black against Santa Clarita Chiefs, 38-0, Bantam Green against Castaic Blue, 22-0, and Bantam White against Valley Black, 34-0.
The Burbank Pee-Wees, the No. 1 seed in their division, had a bye.