The offensive machine that is Manteca High’s boys soccer team continued to churn out goals by the bundle in the first round of its own Buffalo Cup Friday at Guss Schmiedt Field.
Sophomore standout Marcus Montano had a hat trick by the 10th minute and finished with four goals as the Buffaloes pounded Orestimba, 8-0. They square off with Bret Harte in the winner’s bracket semifinal at 8:30 this morning. The winner plays for the championship at 2 p.m., which the loser closes tourney play with the third-place match starting at 12:30 p.m.
Manteca, now 4-0 in its busy nonleague schedule, has scored no less than five goals in a single contest.
Montano netted Manteca’s first three goals in the sixth, ninth and 10th minutes. Nacho Valdovinos followed with his first of two goals in the 18th minute. Valdovinos also had two assists. Manuel Nuno added contributed two goals and two assists, and Jesus Ponce chipped in a pair of assists.
“We out-possessed them most of the game and moved the ball around really well,” Manteca coach Justin Coenenberg said. “We did a nice job of finishing and capitalizing on our opportunities.”
Patterson 2, Weston Ranch 0
The Cougars (1-1) did well to keep up with the perennial Western Athletic Conference contenders from Patterson but couldn’t put away shots in key moments.
Weston Ranch had its best opportunity just two minutes into the match. Victor Trejo’s look from inside the penalty area was thwarted by the Patterson keeper, who jumped on the ball while it was on its way to the goal line. Late in the game, the Cougars finally hit the net but were called for a foul in the process.
Marcos Melendez and Osvaldo Barbosa scored for Patterson.
“We didn’t move the ball quick enough and we needed to play more physical,” Weston Ranch co-head coach Julio Madrigal said. “They out-hustled us all game, but this was a good wake-up call.”
Weston Ranch faces the loser of the Linden-Petaluma game at 10 a.m. today.
Gregori Invitational
Lathrop is off to a 3-0 start after picking up two more victories in Modesto Friday.
The Spartans started off tournament play with a 3-0 win over Trans-Valley League power Hughson before knocking off Beyer, 2-1. Gilberto Duran and Felipe Gomez accounted for all of Lathrop’s goals. Omar Guzman picked up four saves at goal against Hughson, while Eric Deleon turned in five in the Beyer game.
Lathrop takes on Johansen this morning at 10.
Nonleague
Ripon 3, Waterford 1
The Indians (1-3) tallied their first win of the early season with goals from Arik Anaya, Jack Brierly, and Hank Gaalswyk.
