Controlling the action from the moment the referee dropped the ball for play, the Burroughs High boys’ soccer team completely dominated the action.
The Indians scored two goals in each half that catapulted them past visiting Burbank 4-1 in a Pacific League match on Friday afternoon.
When junior forward David Gerlach’s 20-yard laser found the back of the net in the 11th minute, the Indians (10-3-3 and 6-0-2 in league) forged ahead 1-0.
In the 35th minute, sophomore forward Manny Gonzalez drilled home a 25-yard winner that extended the lead to 2-0.
“I think we got our energy from our defense,” Gonzalez said. “I give all the credit to our defense. They hold it down all night. I feel like it came down to who wanted it more.”
A tally from 25 yards in the 41st minute by sophomore forward Elias Galaviz pushed Burroughs’ lead to 3-0 and Gonzalez’s 15-yarder in the 69th minute capped the Indians’ scoring that made it 4-0.
“We played well. We knew that we had to be patient. The guys moved the ball very well and we just needed to keep our composure and needed to limit Burbank’s opportunities,” Burroughs coach Michael Kodama said.
It took a while, but the Bulldogs (4-5-1 and 3-4-1 in league) finally scratched the scoreboard when senior midfielder Andy Cardenas, who is the kicker on the football team, dropped in a 10-yard header in extra time that trimmed the lead to three goals.
“We got outplayed the whole day,” Burbank coach Loi Phan said. “It was like a scrimmage. Bottom line is we got beat from the beginning to the end. They’re much better than us. We’ll regroup. We’ll play them again.”
Gerlach’s 20-yarder in the 44th minute came so very close, caroming off the right goal post.
“We’re getting better and better all the time,” Kodama said of his talented squad. “We’re happy with it.”
In the second minute, Gonzalez’s 25-yarder sailed wide left and three minutes later Gonzalez’s attempt was picked up by the goalie.
Junior defender Manny Pascual’s 10-yard header in the seventh minute was off target and senior midfielder Sam Hawksworth’s 35-yard blast in the eighth minute went wide left.
Three minutes later, senior forward Esteban Alcantar’s 25-yarder failed to locate the target.
In the 12th minute, Hawksworth’s shot was blocked.
Pascual’s 20-yard header in the 13th minute scooted right, and three minutes later Burbank sophomore midfielder Nick Diaz’s 45-yard free kick didn’t find the goal.
Senior forward Matthew Cardenas delivered a 10-yarder in the 16th minute and was followed by Hawksworth’s 30-yarder a minute later that drifted wide right.
Gonzalez had consecutive shots stuffed in the 22nd and 24th minute. Junior midfielder Juan Carlos Rosales’ 20-yarder in the 25th minute missed the mark and in the 26th and 31st minute, Cardenas delivered two 35-yarders that were not successful.
In the 33rd minute, Gonzalez saw his 25-yarder picked up by the goalie and in the 35th minute, Gonzalez delivered a 25-yarder.
Diaz’s 43-yard free kick in the 36th minute failed and Alcantar had his attempt blocked in the 38th minute.
Gonzalez’s 20-yard header in the 46th minute was off target, and Alcantar’s 25-yarder a minute later drifted wide right.
Alcantar’s 15-yarder in 52nd minute missed the goal, Alcantar’s 25-yard free kick in the 53rd minute was also off and Hawksworth’s rebound didn’t find the back of the net.
Hawksworth’s 15-yarder in the 55th minute wasn’t successful and two minutes later Alcantar’s 15-yarder didn’t find the goal.
Cardenas had a 25-yarder in the 58th minute and Gerlach’s shot was blocked two minutes later.
Cardenas’ 25-yarder in the 60th minute was way too high and a 20-yarder by Galaviz in the 67th minute failed.
Burbank senior midfielder Dara Ashrafi’s 35-yarder in the 68th minute missed the target and junior midfielder Dylan Mahoney’s 20-yarder in the 70th minute sailed wide left.
In the 75th minute, Mahoney’s 35-yarder missed and Burbank senior defender Ocelotl Tellez added a 25-yarder in extra time.
