With the season on the line and needing a win to make the playoffs on Friday, Feb. 14, boys’ soccer trailed 1-0 almost into the 90th minute against Aragon High School. It seemed like a disappointing season was going to end in heartbreaking fashion. With just minutes left in the game, it felt the team was destined, in a season of unexpected challenges, to miss the Central Coast Section (CCS) playoffs. At that moment, the Panthers needed a miracle — and that’s exactly what they got.
Senior Cian Butler scored an 89th-minute header, bringing the Panthers back into the game. While one goal would have kept Burlingame from losing to the Dons and secured a draw, the team had to win the game to qualify for CCS. Senior Kylan Dean answered the call, scoring only a few minutes later, giving the Panthers a 2-1, postseason-clinching victory.
“Scoring with a minute left in regular time and then also scoring in stoppage time is incredible,” head coach Anthony Dimech said. “These are memories you live with forever.”
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Seniors, including midfielder Matthew Wade, were honored in a ceremony before the game began.
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Players, spectators, and coaches rush onto the field shortly after the winning goal.
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The Panthers had multiple opportunities to score in the closing minutes before their eventual winning goal as time expired.
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Junior defender Jack Clarke chases after the ball, trying to pass it forward to the midfielders
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Boys’ soccer players rest on the bench between halves of the game.
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Head coach Anthony Dimech gives his team a halftime speech, reminding them that if they lose it would be the last game they played this season
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Junior Dylan Rossen attempts a crucial free-kick late in the second half as the panthers trail 1-0.
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Sophomore Nico Armijo attempts a throw-in as the panthers are tied up 0-0 early in the game.
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Boys’ soccer meets before the beginning of their final league game, determining their postseason eligibility
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The miraculous comeback was made all that more special given the festivities before the game, where the team’s seniors were honored for their contributions. Two hours later, it took season-saving goals from two seniors to ensure their senior night game was not their last time putting on a Burlingame uniform.
“I was kind of at a loss for words,” Dean said. “It’s a great feeling on senior night to come and score in front of all my friends that I’ve been going to school with since elementary school.”
Despite a slow start to the year, the Panthers have had an incredible turnaround to finish their season, stringing together a three-game win streak to launch them back into postseason contention.
“[We have] a lot of young guys, and a lot of injuries, it’s been an up and down year,” Dimech said. “For us to fight here at the end, get it together, and be eligible for playoffs, it’s amazing.”
Despite their eligibility, the Panthers are near the cutoff for CCS qualification, so they’ll take on Mills High School next week, attempting to secure their spot in the playoffs.
“[CCS qualification] is all points based, and right now they project us right at the cut off,” Dimech said. “I’m going to try next week to schedule a game or two, and hopefully we can get a few more points and sneak into the playoffs.”
