Already anchored in third place in the Pacific League, Burroughs High School’s women’s soccer team is looking to finish the regular season on a high note before embarking on a playoff trip.
Burroughs may have taken a step in that direction when he visited Arcadia for league play on Tuesday.
The Bears kept a close relationship with the experienced Apache, but their bid for victory fell through in a 1–0 loss at Windy Memorial Field.
The Burroughs (11-6-1, 8-4-1 in the league, 25 points) struggled to draw the Apaches (13-4-2, 12-1, 37 points), but Arcadia’s impressive defence. could not be broken. A unit with only 9 runs this season.
“We played a very good game against a very good team,” said Burroughs manager Brady Riggs. Once the playoffs start, that’s what we can build.”
Arcadia took a 1–0 lead with an Ima Kellerman goal inside the box in the 29th minute. Arcadia’s shot hit the post and the rebound went to Kellerman, who beat Burroughs goalkeeper Leila Hoyo.
Arcadia failed to find a shot in the first half, but Burroughs looked for a comeback in the second half.
The Bears nearly leveled in the 67th minute when Kelani Roy’s free kick hit the crossbar. The ball went to Burroughs’ Eden Butcher, who lined up a shot that was stopped on the goal line by Arcadia goalkeeper Ainsley Stevenson.
“I thought we were going to equalize there,” said Riggs, whose team lost 2-0 to Arcadia on 10 January.
“We certainly had a chance. We took two bites of that apple. Drop it two inches and tie it.”
The Bears finished the game with three goals, holding the five-time champion Apaches to just two.
The Burrows will conclude the regular season with a league game against crosstown rivals Burbank at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. The Bears scored a 4–0 victory at home against the Bulldogs on January 13.
“Go out there and try to win that game and then get ready for the playoffs,” Riggs said.
Arcadia can visit Crescenta Valley on Thursday to decide the league championship with a win or draw. Crescenta Valley are 11-0-2 with 35 points.
The Burrows will be in the CIF Southern Section Division V Playoffs this season after last season’s Division IV.
The CIF Postseason kicks off on Monday with a wildcard match. The first round contest will start on his February 8th.
Playoff brackets for all seven divisions will be announced Saturday at 10am.
