CZ Elite defeated Triangle United of North Carolina, 3-2, to secure the title.
In the match, CZ Elite jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the 26th minute, and then survived a late Triangle rally.
Eder Arreola scored his fifth goal of the tournament — leading all scorers in the event — in the 26th minute for CZ Elite to go up, 3-0.
After two Triangle goals, the team had a chance to tie the score during injury time. However, Chad Drimer’s header was deflected by the CZ Elite goalkeeper and ricocheted off the crossbar.
Kirakosyan and Guenther — both All-Area honorees — had successful senior seasons, helping their respective teams earn playoff berths. Burroughs tied Pasadena for the Pacific League championship.
Guenther, a senior forward, was an All-CIF Southern Section Division IV second-team pick. He played wherever the Indians needed him, splitting time at defense, midfield and forward. The two-time first-team all-leaguer scored five goals in league, including goals in the last three league matches.
Kirakosyan earned Pacific League Player of the Year honors, tallying 21 goals and eight assists.
Local taking part in world championships: Burbank resident Lisa Atwell is getting the opportunity to compete on a world stage.
She is one of 30 Californians taking part in the World Horseshoe Pitching Championships at the Prairie Capitol Convention Center in Springfield, Ill.
The competition began Monday and runs through August 8. The Open Men and Open Women championships will be decided in the final round of competition on the final day.
The two-week tournament is held once each summer to crown world champion horseshoe pitchers in each of eight divisions: Open Men, Open Women, Senior Men, Senior Women, Elder (short-distance) Men, Junior Boys, Junior Girls and Junior Cadets (9-years old and under).
Pitchers are competing for approximately $170,000 in prize money, trophies and scholarships, as well as the right to call themselves world champions.
This is the 100th anniversary of the championships.
— Jeff Tully
