Often one of the littlest players on the pitch, Isela Rivera draws attention from opposing defenses and spectators with her big game and big personality.

It’s hard not to notice her.

This past spring season, the diminutive striker managed to stand out on a loaded East Union team that captured its first Valley Oak League championship in 11 years. She racked up 29 goals, 15 assists and the VOL’s Most Valuable Player honor in her electrifying sophomore campaign.

Rivera is also the Manteca Bulletin All-Area MVP.

“I’m really confident in the way I play, and people tell me I walk with that swagger or whatever,” she said. “When I come out (to the soccer field) I feel like I’m the one who has to take charge, no matter how old I am.”

Rivera isn’t intimidated by playing with girls bigger and older than she is. She immediately assumed the leadership role at East Union as a freshman and currently plays for the Modesto Ajax United’s under-23 women’s team to stay sharp over the summer. Going into her freshman year, she captained the Mountain View/Los Altos Lightning’s national champion under-14 squad that claimed the U.S. Youth Soccer title in 2010.

Seasoned beyond her years, Rivera started playing soccer with the Hayward Area Youth Soccer Organization at age 3. By the time she was 11, she gave up basketball, softball and golf to concentrate on soccer.  In 2008 she was selected to play for the Olympic Development Program state team.

Rivera led East Union to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV playoffs her freshman year, scoring 25 goals and 23 assists. With a talented cast of underclassmen returning, the Lancers were understandably huge favorites in the VOL — arguably one of the most competitive conferences in the SJS.

Rivera tied for the league leads in goals scored (17) and assisted (11), but instead of loading up her stats against weaker opponents she spread her contributions across 13 of the 14 VOL contests.

She got to show off her versatility this year, playing minutes on the defensive third and as goalie.

East Union went 13-0-1 in league with the lone blemish coming from a 2-2 tie with Kimball. To finish without a loss was a remarkable feat, especially with two of the team’s chief challengers being crosstown rivals Manteca and Sierra. Both joined East Union in the SJS Division IV playoffs this past year.

“Winning VOL was a big deal to us,” Rivera said. “Beating Sierra and Manteca twice was, too, because those are two very good teams.

“Every game we couldn’t take lightly. Teams were out to get us. It was very competitive and very physical this year and it was a challenge.”

East Union would go on to fall short of expectations beyond the conference season. The Lancers had never previously reached a section championship match, and they had the team to win it all in 2012.

Central Catholic of Modesto played spoiler in the opening round, winning a penalty kick-shootout 3-2 after withstanding constant pressure from the Lancers for 100 minutes (80 in regulation, 20 in overtime). The Raiders did well to take a scoreless tie into PKs after being outshot 20-3.

It was a lesson learned by East Union.

“It takes a lot to win a playoff game,” Rivera said. “We played well, but not as well as we should have. A lot of us didn’t finish, and when we got to PKs some girls couldn’t hit the target. It happens.

“It’s 50-50 when it comes to PKs and that’s why we have to do a better job of ending the game before it gets to that.”

The bitter taste of defeat could make the team stronger in 2013. Expectations will certainly be higher with 16 of 21 players returning along with players from the VOL’s second-place frosh-soph squad.

 “This year’s group was a lot of fun,” Rivera said, who got to play with her freshman sister Isabela for the first time. “I hope for us to go a lot farther next year.”