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ALL WORK AND NO PLAY FOR EU
Lancers coast in first of two games over break
socr-eu-vs-lat-pic-2
East Union midfielder Ode Castillo controls the ball of a throw-in. - photo by JONAMAR JACINTO
Spring break isn’t about rest and relaxation under the sun for East Union High’s girls soccer team this week.

With seven players on vacation, the remaining Lancers stayed behind to work under frigid conditions at Dino Cunial Field Tuesday and beat visiting Lathrop, 7-0.

Defender Reanna Schmitt isn’t too bitter about it, though.

“If you’re not playing sports over spring break you just eat and gain a couple pounds, so I don’t mind being out here,” said Schmitt, one of six Lancers to score.

Freshman Kayla Lamont scored twice for East Union (3-0-2 Valley Oak League, 8-2-4 overall), one of which came off a cornerkick late in the first half to put the Lancers up 3-0.

Other scoring contributors with one goal apiece were twins Ode and Randy Castillo, Stephanie Sabala and Megan Howley. Howley was also in on three assists.

Randy Castillo struck first in the 4th minute, and Howley buried hers in the 11th. But the Lancers went on a 24-minute scoreless drought in part because of Lathrop’s valiant effort on defense.

“What I wanted to see was more passing, but that didn’t happen in the first half,” said EU assistant coach Juan Sandoval, filling in for head coach Jim Todd. “In the second half they showed a little more of what I call ‘beautiful soccer.’

“It wasn’t as much as I wanted to see, but when you play lesser teams the players tend to relax a little too much and not play to their potential. I wasn’t really looking for more girls, just good soccer.”

East Union played “beautiful soccer” at times in the second half. There were a few possessions that lasted over a minute and resulted in well-mounted attacking runs.

The Lancers’ last goal was their best. Howley broke away down the right flank and crossed it to Ode Castillo, whose initial one-touch shot was deflected by goalkeeper Esmeralda Garcia. Castillo reacted quickly off the miss and headed it home in the 64th minute.

Garcia, playing her second game at goal, racked up 18 saves as East Union held an overwhelming 36-1 shot advantage. Lathrop’s lone shot came 15 minutes into the second half.

“Our defense held up for the most part, but we’re getting there,” Lathrop coach Ryan Biedermann said. “I’m impressed with our goalie. That was just her second game and she made some great saves. She’s got the talent, she just needs the experience.”

East Union heads to Weston Ranch Thursday while Lathrop takes on Ceres on the road.

Oakdale 7, Weston Ranch 1
OAKDALE — Oakdale (3-0-2) found itself nursing a comfortable 5-1 lead at the half and had no problems keeping Weston Ranch’s opportunities to a minimum over the final 40 minutes of play.

“Oakdale is a really good team,” Weston Ranch coach Carlos Gaspar said. “They move the ball around very well. They outplayed us, they beat us in every part of the game and today they were clearly a better team.”

Weston Ranch (2-4, 2-8-1) got its only goal from Wafa Hafed, who made it 3-1 at the time.

Things won’t get any easier for the Cougars as they play host to a talented East Union Lancer club.

“I told my girls that we have 13 games left,” Gaspar said. “We have to take each game one at a time and just keep playing hard.”

Frosh-soph
East Union 10, Lathrop 0
Rose Wood led the Lancer barrage with four goals, with the rest coming from Nicole Whalen, Shaun Nash, Vanessa Carpenter, Sydny Lincoln, Esmeralda Cruz and Katie Hilscher.

Gagenpreet Kaur and Nash added two assists apiece.