Men’s soccer: Burchell heads to Vanguard

COSTA MESA - Duke Burchell, a two-time first-team All-Sea View

League boys soccer goalie at Newport Harbor High, will continue his

collegiate career at Vanguard University, Lions Coach Dave McLeish

announced Monday.

“Duke is one of the top young goalkeepers in the area,” McLeish said.

“He is extremely athletic and fearless in the goal.”

Burchell, who was also a first-team All-Sea View League punter for the

Sailors’ CIF Southern Section Division VI football runner up, also

competed on the Sailors’ tennis team.

The 6-foot-1, 175-pounder helped lead the Sailors to the CIF soccer

playoffs as a junior, when the Sailors finished third in the Sea View

League. Last season, he helped the Tars tie for third place, though

Irvine gained the league’s final playoff spot on the basis of a

tiebreaker.

Burchell joins a Vanguard program which cracked the NAIA Top 20 poll

for the first time in school history last season at the No. 15 spot. The

Lions were 10-5-1, but went 7-1-1 to finish second in the Golden State

Athletic Conference. They qualified for the NAIA Region 2 playoffs.