BY Rick Assad
Just based on effort and desire, the Burbank High girls’ soccer team played well, but scoring opportunities came and went without success during a CIF Southern Section Division V first-round playoff match versus visiting Carpinteria.
The Warriors came out and tallied the first goal in the 12th minute on Thursday afternoon at Kemp-Kallem Field and then chimed in with two more for a 3-0 triumph.
Freshman forward/midfielder Caroline Cooney ripped a 23-yarder for a 1-0 advantage and junior midfielder/defender Kaydance Gardner threw in a 20-yard penalty kick in the 56th minute for a two-goal cushion and the icing on the cake came on a tally in the 78th minute by freshman forward/midfielder Yoselyn Lara.
Dennis Leon is Burbank’s head coach and thought the match was going to be a tussle.
“That was a tough one. The girls competed and didn’t quit, but digging out of a 2-0 hole is always a challenge,” he said.
Leon felt the match was still one that could have gone in favor of the Bulldogs.
“From my view, the difference was efficiency in key moments. We had stretches of good play, but they capitalized on their chances while we couldn’t convert ours,” he said. “A couple of defensive lapses and second-ball reactions hurt us early, and chasing the game forced us to open up more than we wanted.”
Lara’s attempt in the initial minute drifted too far right and sophomore midfielder/defender Michelle Cornejo had a kick from 32 yards in the second minute for the warriors.
Burbank freshman forward Sofia Martinez had a header in the next minute and Cooney added a kick in the eighth minute that was also too far right.
Senior defender Vivian Huskins contributed a free kick from 45 yards in the 22nd minute for the Warriors (15-1-2) and Carpinteria senior striker Evelyn Lara had a kick in the 24th minute from 30 yards.
Burbank junior midfielder Jocelyn Morinaga had a 42-yard free kick in the 28th minute and Martinez had a kick from 27 yards in the 29th minute.
Senior forward Logan Labistour had an attempt in the 33rd minute that sailed left for the Warriors.
Morinaga delivered a 55-yard free kick in the 36th minute and Morinaga then added a 52-yard free kick in extra time that capped the opening half.
Yoselyn Lara began the second half with a 15-yard kick in the 44th minute and Gardner added a 35-yard penalty kick in the 47th minute.
Carpinteria freshman striker Kenzi Gardner contributed a 32-yard kick in the 48th minute.
Junior midfielder Sophia Leon broke the spell for the Bulldogs in the 50th minute with a 35-yard free kick.
Huskins had a free kick in the 61st minute and Cornejo had a boot in the 65th minute from 35 yards.
Morinaga had a 45-yard kick in the 67th minute that came close to scoring for the Bulldogs (11-11-1).
Kenzi Gardner had a 47-yard kick in the 69th minute and Huskins had a 46-yard free kick in the 69th minute that also came close to being a goal.
Morinaga added a 40-yard free kick in the 74th minute and Huskins had a 50-yard blast in the 75th minute.
Morinaga tossed in a 27-yard kick in extra time and Morinaga finished off the match with another free kick, this time from 52 yards in extra time.
Leon knew his team would play to the final whistle and was determined to make it a match.
“I did like our effort and response, though,” he stated. “The work was there – we just need to be sharper in both boxes and cleaner in possession when it matters most.”
