Ripon High coach Jose Bobadilla won his 100th career game earlier this season.
On Tuesday, Manuel Pires will chase No. 300 as Sierra’s only-ever sideline general in its 14th season at the varsity level.
Both Ripon and Sierra are the area’s last teams standing and they are favorites in their respective divisions in the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.
Sierra opens the Division IV tournament against El Dorado of Placerville at home Tuesday, 6 p.m.
“Needing to win a playoff game to get to that (300th victory) makes it even more special,” Pires said.
The Timberwolves own an impressive 25-0-1 record after wrapping up an undefeated Valley Oak League season for their 10th championship, and they are looking to hang a fourth girls soccer section banner in the school’s gymnasium.
Sierra has made it look easy despite a challenging schedule. Preceding the always-tough VOL, the Timberwolves battled Division I powerhouse Turlock to a 1-1 draw in a non-league match and won the competitive Folsom Challenge Cup as well as their own Vern Gebhardt Champions Cup.
Sierra has allowed just six goals all season and owns 21 shutouts.
Sierra’s season-long dominance has garnered national attention. Sierra recently moved up to No. 7 in the ESPN Rise Fab 50 national rankings and are third according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas spring season poll.
Sierra is the only team left in the section that doesn’t have a loss, but it won’t be a cakewalk to the D-IV title. Capital Valley Conference champion West Campus eliminated Sierra from the last two postseasons and has returned most of its players.
And CVC runner-up Cosumnes Oaks of Elk Grove is a loaded first-year program that is good enough to make its mark now.
Should Sierra and West Campus meet in the second round, the rematch would take place in Sacramento for the third season in a row.
“We’re focused on El Dorado,” Pires said. “In order for us to move on we have to win this game. Every game will be treated like a section final. If we win, then we’ll worry about who we play next.”
A victory is likely for the Timberwolves. Pires said he has never seen El Dorado (9-4-3) in the playoffs before, but the unknown is enough to let concern creep into his mind.
The Cougars are led by freshman forward Jesslyn Jana, who has nine goals. Sierra, on the other hand, is spearheaded by grizzled four-year varsity standout Nicole Vanni, who leads the state in scoring with 50 goals and is the school’s new single-season and program record holder in goals scored.
Bobadilla’s Indians also drew the tough end of the bracket. They could also be seeking revenge against Western Athletic Conference champion Hilmar in an expected second-round matchup.
Hilmar defeated Ripon 1-0 in the 2007 Division V championship round and defeated the Indians again in the semifinals a year ago en route to earning a second straight crown.
Ripon (21-1-1), the Trans Valley League’s three-time defending champion, is on a quest to claim the school’s first-ever section title.
The Mother Lode League’s second-seeded Linden Lions (9-4-5) is Ripon’s first road bump.
The Indians will have to make do without standout center midfielder Ariel Anaya, who is out for the season with a knee injury. Junior striker Renae McFadden has still managed to shine, as she is second to Vanni among the state’s leading scorers with 41 goals.
Ripon hosts Linden Tuesday, 4:30 p.m. at Park View Elementary.
On Tuesday, Manuel Pires will chase No. 300 as Sierra’s only-ever sideline general in its 14th season at the varsity level.
Both Ripon and Sierra are the area’s last teams standing and they are favorites in their respective divisions in the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.
Sierra opens the Division IV tournament against El Dorado of Placerville at home Tuesday, 6 p.m.
“Needing to win a playoff game to get to that (300th victory) makes it even more special,” Pires said.
The Timberwolves own an impressive 25-0-1 record after wrapping up an undefeated Valley Oak League season for their 10th championship, and they are looking to hang a fourth girls soccer section banner in the school’s gymnasium.
Sierra has made it look easy despite a challenging schedule. Preceding the always-tough VOL, the Timberwolves battled Division I powerhouse Turlock to a 1-1 draw in a non-league match and won the competitive Folsom Challenge Cup as well as their own Vern Gebhardt Champions Cup.
Sierra has allowed just six goals all season and owns 21 shutouts.
Sierra’s season-long dominance has garnered national attention. Sierra recently moved up to No. 7 in the ESPN Rise Fab 50 national rankings and are third according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas spring season poll.
Sierra is the only team left in the section that doesn’t have a loss, but it won’t be a cakewalk to the D-IV title. Capital Valley Conference champion West Campus eliminated Sierra from the last two postseasons and has returned most of its players.
And CVC runner-up Cosumnes Oaks of Elk Grove is a loaded first-year program that is good enough to make its mark now.
Should Sierra and West Campus meet in the second round, the rematch would take place in Sacramento for the third season in a row.
“We’re focused on El Dorado,” Pires said. “In order for us to move on we have to win this game. Every game will be treated like a section final. If we win, then we’ll worry about who we play next.”
A victory is likely for the Timberwolves. Pires said he has never seen El Dorado (9-4-3) in the playoffs before, but the unknown is enough to let concern creep into his mind.
The Cougars are led by freshman forward Jesslyn Jana, who has nine goals. Sierra, on the other hand, is spearheaded by grizzled four-year varsity standout Nicole Vanni, who leads the state in scoring with 50 goals and is the school’s new single-season and program record holder in goals scored.
Bobadilla’s Indians also drew the tough end of the bracket. They could also be seeking revenge against Western Athletic Conference champion Hilmar in an expected second-round matchup.
Hilmar defeated Ripon 1-0 in the 2007 Division V championship round and defeated the Indians again in the semifinals a year ago en route to earning a second straight crown.
Ripon (21-1-1), the Trans Valley League’s three-time defending champion, is on a quest to claim the school’s first-ever section title.
The Mother Lode League’s second-seeded Linden Lions (9-4-5) is Ripon’s first road bump.
The Indians will have to make do without standout center midfielder Ariel Anaya, who is out for the season with a knee injury. Junior striker Renae McFadden has still managed to shine, as she is second to Vanni among the state’s leading scorers with 41 goals.
Ripon hosts Linden Tuesday, 4:30 p.m. at Park View Elementary.
