A Little Closer To A Title?

GIRLS’ WATER POLO: Burbank defeats Burroughs, 18-3, to finish league regular season undefeated.

By Jeff Tully
Published:Saturday, February 7, 2009 Burbank Leader

BURROUGHS HIGH — With a convincing 18-3 victory Wednesday against cross-town rival Burroughs, the Burbank High girls’ water polo team completed a Pacific League sweep of its six league opponents. Accomplishing that feat in any other team sport in the Southern Section would give a team like the Bulldogs a league championship. However, in water polo, things are done a little differently. If Burbank wants to nail down its first-ever crown, it has to win two head-to-head matches against league foes in the Pacific League Tournament, which begins Tuesday at Burbank High.

With a point system in play, teams’ final placement in league play will be factored in with their finish in the league tournament. “We know if we win our last two games, we will win the league championship,” said Burbank Coach Carlos Pelayo, who accomplished half of that goal by defeating the Indians. “If we are able to make it to the final game, we will clinch at least a share of the league championship.

”This is the second time in school history that Burbank (17-9, 6-0 in league) has captured the regular-season league title. In 2007, the squad also went undefeated in the regular season. However, in the first match of the league tournament, the No. 1-seeded Bulldogs were defeated by fourth-seeded Glendale, 9-7. The team went into the playoffs as the second-place team from the league.

Well aware of what happened two seasons ago, Pelayo is trying to make sure this year’s team doesn’t suffer a letdown. “The girls know what happened two years ago, and they realize what could happen,” he said. “But I have changed my coaching a little from previous years so we are ready for the tournament. In years past we would work hard going into the tournament. This year, we will taper off a bit heading in so there isn’t that fatigue factor. ”If everything falls into place for Burbank, it would likely face Crescenta Valley in the tournament championship.

Last month, Burbank defeated the Falcons, 10-9, in sudden-death overtime. In the latest CIF Southern Section Division IV poll, Crescenta Valley is ranked fifth and Burbank is seventh. Burbank isn’t the only team that is headed for the postseason. Despite Wednesday’s loss, Burroughs (9-11, 3-3) can’t finish any lower than fourth in league. The top four teams earn automatic playoff berths.

However, before they hit the playoffs, the Indians must again face the Bulldogs on Tuesday in an opening-round league tournament contest.“We definitely have to make some adjustments against them,” Burroughs Coach Carlos Ponce said. “Burbank is a great team, there’s no doubt about that. But we just didn’t play our best against them I know we can play better.”Burroughs was actually able to stay with Burbank in the early going. When Indian Bianca Dekker lobbed a shot for a goal with 2:51 remaining in the first quarter, Burroughs was able to tie the score at 3.

However, what followed was a monumental dry spell by the Indians. Following the Dekker goal, the Bulldogs defense clamped down and didn’t allow a single score the rest of the match. Burbank went on a scoring binge, tallying the next 15 straight goals.Burbank was paced by Amberlynn Ullo and Alex O’Connor, who scored five goals each. Teammate Mary Stepanyan added four goals. Dekker had two goals for Burroughs and Chloe Thorton added one. Dekker had to leave the match after being majored in the third quarter.