Bulldogs Secure Share Of Title

GIRLS’ WATER POLO: Burbank defeats Burroughs, 14-3, and will play CV for outright league championship.

By Jeff Tully
Burbank Leader
Tuesday, February 10, 2009

BURBANK HIGH — There was no celebrating for the Burbank High girls’ water polo team following a 14-3 victory Tuesday against Burroughs. Although the Bulldogs secured a share of the Pacific League championship with the win in the tournament semifinals, the team has its sights set on a bigger goal. “We want to win the championship outright,” Burbank Coach Carlos Pelayo said. “That has been our goal all season. ”The Bulldogs have never captured a league title in girls’ water polo. Having already secured a share of the championship, it is only the second team title by a Burbank girls’ squad since the tennis team won a crown in 2002 — in the Foothill League. In addition, it is only the second girls’ title in 19 years, as the track and field team brought home a Foothill League championship in 1990. “The girls are well aware that we have one more step until we reach our goal,” Pelayo said. “Winning a share of the league title is nice, but we want to win the tournament and go into the playoffs as the No. 1 team from the league.

”Burbank (18-9, 7-0 in league) will go against Crescenta Valley (18-8, 6-1) at 5 p.m. Thursday in a championship match at Burbank High. The Falcons defeated Pasadena, 15-6, Tuesday in their semifinal contest.In the latest CIF Southern Section Division IV poll, Crescenta Valley is ranked fifth and Burbank is seventh. Last month, Burbank defeated the Falcons, 10-9, in sudden-death overtime. However, in the Oxnard Tournament last month, the Falcons defeated the Bulldogs, 7-3. “In that tournament we didn’t have our starting goalkeeper and we were missing one of our starting field players,” Pelayo said. Burroughs (9-12, 3-4) — which has already qualified for the postseason — will play at 4 p.m. Thursday in a third-place match against Pasadena. Indians Coach Carlos Ponce said he welcomes a rematch with Pasadena, which defeated his squad during the regular season.“I think we have improved since the last time we played Pasadena,” Ponce said. “This is going to be a great opportunity for us.”As been its forte all season, Burbank put on a dominating defensive performance against Burroughs.

The defense shut out the Indians in the first, as the squad took a 7-0 lead.The Bulldogs were paced by Mary Stepanyan, who tallied a match-high five goals.Burroughs received two goals from Ally Syverud and one from Ekle Besvold.In goal for Burbank, Sarah Tubert made five saves.“I thought we played a lot better in the second half,” Ponce said. “I was really happy with that.“But Burbank is a very good team. We are rivals in the pool, but we pull for them in other games. We will be rooting for them on Thursday.”