Burbank girls’ soccer continues resurgence with win against Burroughs

Burbank — It was a disastrous start to the season for he Burbank High girls’ soccer team, as it dropped its first seven straight matches.

But since starting Pacific League play, the Bulldogs have played better and are now fighting to earn a playoff spot.

Burbank is hoping its 2-1 league win Wednesday afternoon against cross-town rival Burroughs will keep it moving in the right direction.

The game was a makeup of a match scheduled for Friday that had to be postponed because of rain.

After a 0-7 start, Burbank (3-8-2, 3-4-2 for 11 points) has only lost twice in its last six matches. The Bulldogs earned a 3-3 tie with second-place Crescenta Valley on Tuesday.

1/21

Burroughs’ Alondra Solis and Burbank’s Adrianne Sarukhanyan battle for for a header in a Pacific League girls’ soccer game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 25, 2017.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

2/21

Burbank’s Maria Perez, after scoring the game’s first goal, celebrates with teammates Burbank’s Kamille Eugenio and Adrianne Sarukhanyan in a Pacific League girls’ soccer game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 25, 2017.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

3/21

Burroughs’ Alondra Solis tries to defend against a long Burbank throw in in a Pacific League girls’ soccer game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 25, 2017.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

4/21

Burbank’s Daniela Yanez and Burroughs’ Tatiana Mosdale battle for the ball in a Pacific League girls’ soccer game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 25, 2017.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

5/21

Burbank’s Melanie Tirado traps the ball under pressure from Burroughs’ Alondra Solis in a Pacific League girls’ soccer game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 25, 2017.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

6/21

Burroughs’ Ava Kramer tries to settle the ball near the Burroughs goal under a lot of pressure from Burbank in a Pacific League girls’ soccer game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 25, 2017.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

7/21

Burroughs’ goalie Emily Orsatt slaps the ball with both hands to clear a corner kick by Burbank in a Pacific League girls’ soccer game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 25, 2017.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

8/21

Burroughs’ goalie Emily Orsatt makes a save off of a shot directly at her by Burbank in a Pacific League girls’ soccer game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 25, 2017.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

9/21

Burbank’s Kira Bochard and Burroughs’ Mireya Gonzalez get to the ball t the same time in a Pacific League girls’ soccer game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 25, 2017.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

10/21

Burroughs’ Mireya Gonzalez battles with Burbank’s Adrianne Sarukhanyan to clear the ball under intense pressure in a Pacific League girls’ soccer game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 25, 2017.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

11/21

Burroughs’ Alondra Solis passes the ball up field with Burbank’s Adrianne Sarukhanyan giving chase in a Pacific League girls’ soccer game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 25, 2017.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

12/21

Burroughs’ Anna Kasper clears the ball just as Burbank’s Kira Bochard gets to her in a Pacific League girls’ soccer game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 25, 2017.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

13/21

Burroughs’ Tatiana Mosdale reaches to head the ball against Burbank in a Pacific League girls’ soccer game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 25, 2017.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

14/21

Burbank’s Isabel Partida dribbles the ball passed Burroughs’ Mireya Gonzalez in a Pacific League girls’ soccer game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 25, 2017.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

15/21

Surrounded by Burroughs’ Ava Kramer and Larissa Perez, Burbank’s Kira Bochard tries to get clear with the ball near the Burroughs goal in a Pacific League girls’ soccer game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 25, 2017.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

16/21

Burbank’s Kira Bochard turns to look toward the Burroughs goal with Burroughs’ Ava Kramer giving chase in a Pacific League girls’ soccer game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 25, 2017.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

17/21

Burroughs’ Alondra Solis clears the ball as Burbank’s Adrianne Sarukhanyan arrives to give pressure in a Pacific League girls’ soccer game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 25, 2017.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

18/21

Burroughs’ Samantha Avendeno clears the ball with approaching pressure by Burbank in a Pacific League girls’ soccer game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 25, 2017.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

19/21

Burbank’s goalie Nicole Winters picks up the ball off of a Burroughs shot in a Pacific League girls’ soccer game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 25, 2017.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

20/21

Burroughs’ Alondra Solis and Ava Kramer sandwich Burbank’s Kira Bochard with the ball between their legs in a Pacific League girls’ soccer game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 25, 2017.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

21/21

Burroughs’ Tatiana Mosdale traps the ball against Burbank in a Pacific League girls’ soccer game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 25, 2017.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

“We started off really bad this year, but the girls are really playing better now,” said Burbank Coach Erik Montoya, whose team is 5-0-1 against the Indians over the teams’ last six meetings. “They are playing more as a team now than they were in the beginning of the season.

“We just have to finish our chances and, up until this game, we really haven’t. Even in this game, we had some opportunities that we didn’t finish. But I think the girls are finally gelling and they want to make a push for the playoffs.”

The win puts the Bulldogs into fifth place in league, one point behind fourth-place Hoover (4-5 for 12 points).

With a win, Burroughs (6-3 for 18 points) had a chance to move to within one point of Crescenta Valley (7-1-1 for 22 points) for second, but still occupies the third-place spot in league. Arcadia (9-0) is in first place with Glendale (3-5-1) just behind Burbank.

“This is a huge win for us and we really needed it,” Montoya said. “It is good that we’ve had these two results, today and against CV, and I hope that’s going to give them a lot of confidence.”

Burbank dominated play in the first half, as its defense thwarted every Burroughs scoring opportunity. With the match scoreless, the Indians had their best opportunity in the 15th minute. Abbie Riggs took a shot but Burbank goalkeeper Nicole Winters recovered in time and scooped up the ball.

After having their share of scoring chances, the Bulldogs finally broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute. A Burroughs defender made a bad pass back deep in the Indians’ third and sophomore Maria Perez got control of the ball and fired it from 10 yards out to give Burbank a 1-0 lead.

“I knew that this was a rivalry game, but I didn’t know it was this serious and there was this much aggression,” said Perez, who transferred from a high school in Birmingham, Ala. “But it’s nice to be a part of this.

“I’ve really felt the support from this team and it felt really good to score that first goal.”

The half ended with the Bulldogs holding on to a 1-0 advantage.

The Bulldogs added to their lead in the 53rd minute when senior Kira Bochard made it 2-0. Bochard worked the ball on the left side and when Burroughs goalkeeper Emily Orsatt came off her line to cut down the angle, Bochard chipped a shot over the keeper’s head from 30 yards out.

Burroughs got on the board in the 67th minute. Indians sophomore Tatiana Mosdale took a hard shot that rattled off the inside of the Burbank crossbar and back into the field of play. Riggs was in a perfect position to get a shot off and she beat Winters with a blast into the lower left corner.

“I thought that we played better in the second half,” Burroughs Coach Brady Riggs said. “We put the ball on the ground better and we connected better as a team. It’s hard to play that way and it’s not easy soccer that way, especially when we’re missing some players.

“But I appreciate our girls sticking with the plan and playing the game the right way. … I thought that overall the girls played well and I’m pleased with the effort as always.”