Falcons

LA CRESCENTA — In a prime example that anything can change from game to game in the world of Pacific League girls' soccer, Wednesday's match between host Crescenta Valley High and Burroughs couldn't have been much more different than the teams' initial meeting. After playing to a one-goal draw earlier in the season at Burroughs, a focused and fired-up Falcons squad came out blazing to the tune of a 5-0 drubbing of the visiting Indians. "It was a total mental lapse, if you will, in the first game [and a]

BURBANK — Burroughs High swimming Coach Danny Garcia and his first-year counterpart at Burbank, Chris Goldberg, agree about which school should be the powerhouse in the Pacific League this season. "CV is just going to be untouchable," Garcia said. "They are just so good that I don't think anyone is going to come close to them in our league. " Goldberg offered a similar outlook. "They are going to be very tough," he said about the Falcons. "They usually have excellent swimmers, and I think they'll have another good group this season.

andrew.shortall@latimes.com LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE — The Crescenta Valley High girls' soccer offense got a jolt of life at the expense of host La Cañada on Monday afternoon after having been dormant for most of the season prior. Crescenta Valley only had one goal to its name the entire season before manufacturing three goals against the Spartans for a 3-2 comeback win, with all three coming in the second half and the game-winner coming on a fall-away effort from Whitley Boller.

GLENDALE — Even with a four-run lead in the middle innings, Burbank baseball Coach Bob Hart knew it wasn't large enough against a Crescenta Valley team capable of posting another comeback. Hart's thought proved to be correct. Crescenta Valley got a key bases-loaded triple from Elliot Surrey in the bottom of the fifth inning to help rally to an 8-7 victory against Burbank on Tuesday night in a Pacific League game at Stengel Field. Crescenta Valley improved to 24-2, 13-1 in league, while Burbank concluded its regular season at 11-16, 6-8. The Falcons also stayed alive in their attempt to clinch a share of the league championship, provided they beat first-place Arcadia on Friday night on the road.

BURROUGHS HIGH — Unrelenting rain, bitter cold nor Burroughs High could slow down the Crescenta Valley girls’ water polo team as it continued its unbeaten run through the Pacific League. Paced by Keri Kunkel’s five goals and a tenacious defense, the Falcons continued their run to a fifth straight league title with a resounding 14-3 win against the Indians on a chilly Thursday afternoon at Burroughs High. “Playing in a steady downpour, you have to focus a little more — that’s the nature of a winter sport,” said Crescenta Valley Coach Pete Loporchio, whose team never seemed to lose focus, jumping out to an insurmountable 8-0 advantage.

LA CRESCENTA — Several story lines were prevalent during Friday's Pacific League boys' soccer match between Crescenta Valley High and Burbank. Crescenta Valley looked to remain unbeaten in league despite having to play with two of its starters serving mandatory one-match suspensions, while Burbank had an opportunity to take advantage of those absences and climb in the standings. Blocking out the windy weather and personnel distractions, Crescenta Valley managed to record a 4-0 home victory and move the Falcons a step closer to their third league championship in a row. Alex Berger recorded one goal and two assists for the Falcons, who improved to 12-0-6, 9-0-2 in league for 29 points despite competing without forward Pavle Atanackovic and midfielder Michael Shahnazarians.

LA CRESCENTA — With the Pacific League finals scheduled for later in the month, many track and field athletes are heading down the home stretch in search of refining their strategies to possibly get there. That proved to be the case during Wednesday afternoon's league tri-meet between Glendale, Burroughs and host Crescenta Valley. Among those who stood out were Bob Anderson of Crescenta Valley, Glendale's Mike Davis and Danitza Eyo of Burroughs. Each won two events for their respective squads in a meet that concluded just before sundown, but it was the Falcons who swept through the opposition as a team.

BURBANK — While its dominance temporarily wavered midway through Friday's Pacific League match, the Burroughs High boys' volleyball team regrouped in plenty of time to keep Crescenta Valley from getting close to an upset on the road. And although the Falcons made a strong run at getting back in the match after coming alive down the stretch in the second game, the Indians rediscovered their intensity in the third game to finish off their 25-13, 25-21, 25-17 sweep just as solidly as they began.

NORTHEAST GLENDALE - After putting up five runs in the second inning, the Burbank High baseball team seemingly fizzled away as host Crescenta Valley continued producing at a consistent rate. Unfazed by the deficit, the Falcons steadily chipped away and caught the Bulldogs in the fourth, pulling away with the go-ahead run in the sixth Friday evening en route to an 8-5 win at Stengel Field and an undefeated Pacific League record. Despite giving up five runs and five hits in the second in, senior left-handed pitcher Elliot Surrey (3-0)

LA CRESCENTA — The Crescenta Valley High boys' basketball team got pushed by Burbank in Friday's Pacific League game. Down by nine points early in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs started draining three-pointers and not only grabbed the momentum but also jumped in front of the host Falcons. But Crescenta Valley responded to the challenge like a team determined to remain within striking distance of the league leaders. The Falcons stopped the Burbank run, wrestled back control of the contest and ultimately turned back the Bulldogs to gain a 62-55 victory.

LA CRESCENTA — Several story lines were prevalent during Friday's Pacific League boys' soccer match between Crescenta Valley High and Burbank. Crescenta Valley looked to remain unbeaten in league despite having to play with two of its starters serving mandatory one-match suspensions, while Burbank had an opportunity to take advantage of those absences and climb in the standings. Blocking out the windy weather and personnel distractions, Crescenta Valley managed to record a 4-0 home victory and move the Falcons a step closer to their third league championship in a row. Alex Berger recorded one goal and two assists for the Falcons, who improved to 12-0-6, 9-0-2 in league for 29 points despite competing without forward Pavle Atanackovic and midfielder Michael Shahnazarians.

LA CRESCENTA — In a prime example that anything can change from game to game in the world of Pacific League girls' soccer, Wednesday's match between host Crescenta Valley High and Burroughs couldn't have been much more different than the teams' initial meeting. After playing to a one-goal draw earlier in the season at Burroughs, a focused and fired-up Falcons squad came out blazing to the tune of a 5-0 drubbing of the visiting Indians. "It was a total mental lapse, if you will, in the first game [and a]

BURBANK - Leading into the start of Pacific League play, Crescenta Valley High's girls' water polo team was the prohibitive favorite to defend its league crown with many prognosticating Glendale or Pasadena as the top challenger. Enter Burroughs, as the upstart Indians surprised many as they set up Thursday afternoon's showdown against the Falcons, which both teams entered undefeated in league. But as the match came to an anticlimactic finish, the Falcons made an emphatic statement that nobody's yet to challenge them for league supremacy after throttling the host Indians, 16-4.

BURBANK — The Crescenta Valley High boys' basketball team possesses a dual challenge for opposing defenses. The Falcons move the ball around with exacting precision, opening shooting opportunities for their outside shooters. Couple that with the fact the squad has its share of bigs who can pound in the ball down low, and the double threat can be daunting for teams trying to stop it. Burbank found that out Friday night. Crescenta Valley connected on nine three-pointers and received a big game from junior Cole Currie to defeat the host Bulldogs, 67-55, in a Pacific League contest.

LA CRESCENTA — Goals have not been in short supply for the Crescenta Valley High girls' soccer team early on in this Pacific League season and that was bad news for Burbank when it traveled to CV Friday. The Falcons got goals from a number of different scorers and in a number of different ways, cruising to a 5-0 victory over Burbank. Crescenta Valley Coach Jorden Schulz said it's been a case of practice makes perfect when it comes to her team's offense this year. "We have been working on [offense]

There were coaching changes that took place with the Burroughs High and Burbank boys' soccer programs during the offseason. Allen Machuca is out with the Indians and has been replaced by former longtime Coach Mike Kodama, the winningest coach in program history and one of the most successful encompassing all Burroughs sports. Taking over the Bulldogs' job is Loi Phan, who moves over from leading the girls' program. He takes over for Frank Chavez, whose teams struggled in recent years.