Burroughs High Coach Jacob Cook had an inkling that Thursday’s Pacific League girls’ water polo championship match was going to be tough to win.
What the No. 2 seeded Indians faced was a team that has now claimed seven straight league titles after being routed by Crescenta Valley 18-8 at Burbank High.
The top-seeded Falcons (25-4 and 8-0 in league) were never threatened and were paced by six goals from freshman Alexandra Garas and five from senior Audrey Taylor.
Crescenta Valley was coming off a 23-6 blitz of Glendale while the Indians (14-9 and 6-2 in league) easily ripped through Arcadia.
The CIF Southern Section playoffs begin this week and the seeds will be announced on Sunday.
The Falcons led 5-0 after the first quarter when Garas, who had 15 goals in two tournament games, and Esma Dollaku each scoring two goals while Taylor added one.
Crescenta Valley’s lead expanded to 8-0 before sophomore setter Bianca Sanchez, who had three goals, found the back of the goal for the Indians that made it 8-1.
From this point, Burroughs outscored the Falcons 5-3 with sophomore driver Gwen Turla, who chimed in with a team-best four goals, scoring just before the half as the Indians trailed 11-6.
The Falcons scored five goals in the third quarter and forged a 16-6 advantage before the Indians scored two goals in the fourth quarter, including one from junior driver Dominique Silva.
