With CV holding a narrow 5-4 lead and less than two minutes remaining in the match, the Bulldogs (20-8, 6-2) had two last chances to tie the score.
“I think that was one of our better defensive efforts of the year,” Loporchio said. “Isla’s been big for us all year. I think she’s one of the best goalies in our division, so that certainly helps.”
The Bulldogs’ Elin Karamian and Alex O’Connor each wound up with the ball at two meters, but Falcons defender Taylor Kuh and goalie Isla Zilbert combined for steals on both attacks to preserve the win.
“I’m so excited,” said Zilbert, whose 12 saves kept the Falcons in front. “I can’t believe we won. I’m so happy. I don’t think we’ve ever played this good as a team before.”
The Falcons used that teamwork to jump out to a 2-1 lead after a quarter.
After both teams exchanged a number of turnovers to start the second quarter, Crescenta Valley senior Kelly Anderson, who finished with three goals, rocketed home a five-meter shot to put the Falcons up, 3-1.
Olivia Trimis followed with a beautiful backhand from two meters and the Falcons took a 4-1 lead into the half, thanks to a stellar defensive performance.
The second half was a different story, though, as the momentum swung to the Bulldogs’ side of the pool.
Burbank, which finished with 17 steals, picked up the defensive intensity to hold the Falcons scoreless in the third quarter.
Scores from O’Connor, who finished with two goals and six steals, and Arpi Khanpapyan in the period slashed the Falcons’ lead to 4-3 entering the fourth.
“They were real jittery to begin and then they kind of started to settle down and we found our own a little bit,” Bulldogs Head Coach Carlos Palayo said of his team.
