BOYS SOCCER: BHS One Win from CCS Title

The Score: Burlingame 3, Mitty 2.

The Star: Burlingame High defensive center midfielder Shayan Alimohammadzadehamini nearly didn’t play due to the flu in a Central Coast Section Division II semifinal at Gilroy High. The Panthers are very happy he did. Alimohammadzadehamini, his team’s lone sophomore starter on Tuesday night, scored a head-turning goal in the fourth minute to give Burlingame a quick lead and momentum it never relinquished.

The Turning Point: Playing a capable West Catholic Athletic League opponent in No. 4 seed Mitty, Burlingame hoped to land the first blow. And the top-seeded Panthers did just that with Alimohammadzadehamini’s early goal. The sophomore gained possession with a tackle in Mitty’s defensive third and fired a hard low shot that caromed off the post and then off the diving goalie’s head before crossing the goal line. “It happened so fast, you couldn’t really see it,” Burlingame coach Mike Sharabi said. “It was like, ‘Bing, bing,’ pinballing. The next thing you knew, it was in the net.” And the Panthers were well on their way to the big victory.

The Quote: “It’s pretty amazing, especially in my first year. I set my expectations high for this team. Like I told the boys from Day No. 1, I expected them to be here. … It’s just special, what we’re doing. And I have a really good feeling about Saturday.” – Panthers coach Mike Sharabi, whose team has the chance to cap its fantastic season with the program’s first CCS title since 1997.

What’s Next? Burlingame (17-3-2) meets No. 3 seed Willow Glen in the CCS Division II championship match on Saturday at Gilroy High at a time to be determined. Willow Glen (16-4-2) won 2-1 over No. 2 seed Pajaro Valley earlier Tuesday.

The Bottom Line: The Panthers are within one win of a CCS title – a feat the program last achieved 14 years ago, when now-coach Sharabi was a freshman starter. Burlingame last reached a section final in 2003. Against Mitty, Burlingame, No. 3 in , showcased why it is championship worthy. The Panthers grabbed a 2-0 lead in about the 14^th minute on the first of two goals by Cal-bound star Stefano Bonomo. Burlingame has three center midfielders spread over three classes – Bonomo, Kody Wakasa (a junior) and Alimohammadzadehamini – and all stood out against Mitty. Sharabi said his team hasn’t given up a two-goal lead all year. Bonomo’s excellence, carving up the Mitty defense on his first and then streaking for a breakaway on the second near the 70^th minute – kept the Monarchs (11-9-3) on their heels until they pulled within 3-2 with about three minutes left.