A tense Pacific League boys’ soccer match was expected and one was delivered when Burroughs High faced host Crescenta Valley on Tuesday.
When it was over each team scored a goal and with the 1-1 deadlock the Indians were assured of at least a share of the league title, something they’ve claimed in 2013 and 2014.
Burroughs (16-4-4 and 10-2-1 in league) can take home the banner outright with a triumph over rival Burbank on Thursday and the Falcons (17-3-4 and 8-1-4 in league) fall to Arcadia.
“Winning the league title is important for us,” Burroughs coach Michael Kodama said. “These are the two best teams in the league. You knew that it was going to come down to one play.”
After a scoreless opening half, the Falcons’ junior defender Tomik Baghramian kicked one into the net from five yards in the 49th minute past senior goalie Jordan Morgan, who came in with six shutouts, to make it 1-0.
The tying tally was supplied by senior defender Richard Alonzo on a header after a free kick in the 68th minute that escaped senior goalie Luis Flores.
“We trust each other,” said Alonzo, who missed the first half of league action after spraining his knee in a tournament versus Birmingham. “We never give up because we know it only takes a second to score. The game’s not over until the end.”
The first shot on goal came in the seventh minute by Burroughs senior forward Anton Prather from 10 yards.
The Falcons unloaded three shots on goal and they included a penalty kick from senior defender Alex Atanackovic from 20 yards in the 13th minute, senior midfielder Zander Bakunowski’s 15-yarder in the 15th minute and junior midfielder Dallas Kaauwai’s 10-yarder in the 17th minute.
In the 19th minute, Burroughs senior forward William Rosales had a shot on goal from 20 yards while teammate senior defender Erik Camarillo’s 20-yarder came in the 20th minute.
Crescenta Valley’s senior midfielder Anthony Dehnoushi’s 30-yard shot on goal in the 22nd minute missed, as did senior forward Henry Barkhordarian’s 20-yarder in the 23rd minute and Bakunowski’s 30-yarder in the 26th minute.
Burroughs senior midfielder Jake Lasso, who has scored 15 goals and entered the match having tallied seven with an assist over the last five matches, had a shot on goal from 20 yards in the 31st minute, while Prather’s 15-yard header in the 42nd minute also didn’t find the back of the net.
In the 34th minute, Bakunowski had a shot on goal from 25 yards and junior midfielder Kyle Quesada had a header from 10 yards in the 36th minute for the Falcons.
Prather’s 10-yard shot on goal came during injury time.
The second half opened with Baghramian’s header from 10 yards in the 42nd minute.
Rosales had a shot on goal from 10 yards in the 52nd minute and Atanackovic’s 10-yard header came in the 55th minute.
Camarillo’s 25-yard shot on goal in the 59th minute was countered by Kaauwai’s five-yarder in the 60th minute.
Barkhordarian’s 10-yarder was registered in the 63rd minute while Lasso’s 25-yard shot on goal came in the 64th minute.
A 15-yard shot on goal by Burroughs senior midfielder Cameron Kelly was struck in the 70th minute and Lasso’s 25-yarder followed a minute later.
Camarillo’s header from 10 yards in the 72nd minute was offset by a 10-yarder from Dehnoushi in the 73rd minute.
Prather’s 30-yarder in the 74th minute hit the top of the goal post and senior midfielder Sebouh Oshagan’s 10-yarder in the 77th minute missed for the Falcons.
Prather’s header from 10 yards during injury time was the final shot on goal.
