Five named All-CIF for Burroughs soccer team

The Burroughs High boys’ soccer program has a rich history of churning out players who have earned All-CIF Southern Section awards over the years.

Monday, the Indians’ program added five additional athletes to the list when the selections were released for the 2012-13 season. Earning All-CIF Division III first-team accolades was senior midfielder Brian Arzate and senior midfielder Manny Celio. Making the second team was senior forward Jorman Herrera, while junior forward Michael Conrad and junior forward Brandon Gerlach were third-team selections.

Under Coach Mike Kodama, who finished his second season back with Burroughs after leading the program for 22 years and stepping down after the 2008-09 season, the Indians have garnered 31 All-CIF selections.

“It’s very nice for the program,” Kodama said. “We have had some very good players in the program over the years.”

Arzate and Celio were vital pieces in helping the Indians to a successful showing this past season.

“Manny and Brian just give so much effort that they are great leaders,” said Kodama, who was inducted into the Burroughs Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009. “When your best players are your hardest workers, that says a lot about them.”

The Indians (15-7-3) surged to their first Pacific League championship in four years and ended the campaign with a 10-3-1 record. Burroughs won its opening match of the CIF Southern Section Division III playoffs, defeating Anaheim, 4-3, at home before downing host Redlands East Valley, 2-1, in the second round. Unfortunately for the Indians, their season ended in the quarterfinals with a 4-3 loss in overtime at third-seeded Palmdale.

With Burroughs’ success in the Pacific League, eight players earned all-league honors. In addition, Kodama was honored as coach of the year.

“Some of the guys on the all-league teams don’t have a lot of stats, but they were valuable to us and they helped lead us,” Kodama said.

Arzate was a driving force up top for the Indians this past season. His exploits were rewarded by being named the Pacific League Player of the Year. Although he tallied just two goals and two assists, Kodama said his leadership was invaluable for the Indians.

“When you watch a game that Brian is playing in, and when we’re playing well, you can see how much time he has with the ball,” Kodama said. “He might not score or give an assist, but you can see how he controls the game.”

Celio missed most of the nonleague campaign after recovering from a broken collar bone. During his absence, the Indians struggled. However, the team began to surge when the senior returned to the lineup.

“Manny missed most of the preseason and he finally came back for the final preseason game,” Kodama said. “But when he came back, we were able to put Manny back up top and that changed our team around. He is just so good with the ball; it allows the other guys to play off of him. He is also so unselfish.”

Celio led the Indians with a team-high 10 goals to go along with nine assists.

Gerlach was second on the team with nine goals, but paced Burroughs with 16 assists and Conrad had one goal and four assists.