Burroughs girls’ soccer shuts out Glendale
GLENDALE — Before taking on Glendale High, the Burroughs girls’ soccer team’s players and coach were apprehensive Friday afternoon.
The Nitros came into the contest having lost by single goals against defending league champion Arcadia and last year’s runner-up Crescenta Valley.
Burroughs came out and played aggressively in the early moments, scoring the only goal it would need in the second minute en route to a 3-0 Pacific League win against host Glendale,
“We knew what Glendale was capable of coming in,” said Burroughs coach Brady Riggs, whose team improved to 8-2-1, 3-1 in league. “I have a lot of respect for their coach and they always play very good soccer. This is a place I don’t like to come to and play and we’ve had our troubles here over the years.
“But I thought we really played well today and this is how we are capable of playing every time. This was a very good showing for us.”
Glendale (4-5-1, 0-3), which didn’t qualify for the playoffs a season ago after pacing fifth in league, were missing some key players for Friday’s contest.
“Burroughs is a very good team and it’s always a battle against them,” Nitros coach Victor Aquino said. “But we have a lot of players who are sick and players who are injured. So we didn’t really have our regular team out there today.”
The Indians received a goal and an assist each from senior Catrina Villalpando and junior Abbie Riggs.
But it was sophomore Trinity Vournas that got the Indians started with a goal in the second minute. Riggs made a pass to Vournas in the middle and she beat goalkeeper Julia Tharp with a shot in the near corner.
“Usually in the second half, we’re fighting to get a goal in because we usually score so late,” Villalpando said. “But it was nice to get that goal early and start off strong and we can sit back and relax a little, but still stay strong and do what we have to do.”
Burroughs had a wealth of scoring chances the remainder of the first half, but all of its efforts were thwarted by Tharp, who ended with 15 saves.
In the 44th minute, Villalpando got the ball on the far right side and sent a perfect cross to Riggs to put it in for a 2-0 Indians lead.
Villalpando scored her goal in the 65th minute. From 30 yards out, she steadied the ball but fell to the turf. She instantly sprung to her feet and blasted a shot that came to rest in the upper left corner of the net.
Glendale had a few scoring opportunities in the second half, as junior Meenelly Banoian hit the crossbar with a shot in the 58th minute and also missed high on a free kick 20 yards out in the 67th minute.
Twitter: @jefftsports
