Manteca High kicked off the 1st Annual Buffalo Cup with a 4-1 win over Bret Heart Friday evening at Guss Schmiedt Field.
After a hot start, which culminated in a Renee Munson goal at the 12-minute mark, Manteca went scoreless the rest of the half.
“The first 10 minutes we came out and looked strong,” Manteca head coach Justin Coenenberg said. “And then we had that lull for the last 25 minutes of the first half where our speed of play slowed down. We weren’t winning 50-50 balls, it wasn’t looking good.”
Hillary Coleman went down early with an injury and Abigail Rosas missed the contest altogether.
Ysenia Rodriguez was coming off an illness as well, which left the defensive backfield without three starters.
But Amanda Porter moved back to sweeper from her normal position at center-midfield, and Jordan Nunes came off the bench to provide the backside help that Coenenberg needed.
Manteca ended up outshooting the Bullfrogs 12-7, and allowed just one harmless goal, late in the second half.
“Defensively, I thought we did a good job,” Coenenberg said. “We had some injuries to two of our starting defenders. Jordan Nunes and Amanda Porter did an excellent job filling in.”
After the break, Manteca came out firing on all cylinders, and put the game away at 4-0 before the 50th minute.
Munson added her second goal during the flurry, and Aireene Curry racked up two more scores of her own.
“After halftime, we came out and looked like a very good team,” Coenenberg said. “We were moving it much better, winning 50-50 balls, our through-balls looked good and created a couple of scoring opportunities.
“Scoring on four of 12 shots is pretty good. We’ve struggled in finishing, so it’s good to see that.”
Prior to Friday’s contest, Manteca had collected seven scores from seven different players.
With the win, Manteca moved on to today’s semifinal round.
Kickoff is scheduled for 9 a.m. against Pioneer.
If Manteca moves on, it will play for the title at 2 p.m.
“Our defense played well again, they just got those corner kicks,” Cougars head coach Carlos Gaspar said.
Weston Ranch next faces Amador at 10:30 a.m. on the practice field.
Amador lost to Pitman Friday, 5-1.
Stephanie Vanni assisted Michaela Scott in the 19th minute, and Nicole Vanni added a penalty kick score nine minutes later.
“We played pretty well,” Sierra head coach Manuel Pires said. “We held the ball well, and moved it around. We had some nice opportunities in the second half, but we couldn’t quite get through on them.”
Pires described Sierra’s defensive effort as rock solid.
“We didn’t allow them any looks,” he said.
Melissa Bennett, Rebecca Scott, Hannah Obanni and Jamie Huffman all played well in the backfield.
The T’Wolves lace them up this morning at 9 a.m. for a showdown with Bella Vista.
After a hot start, which culminated in a Renee Munson goal at the 12-minute mark, Manteca went scoreless the rest of the half.
“The first 10 minutes we came out and looked strong,” Manteca head coach Justin Coenenberg said. “And then we had that lull for the last 25 minutes of the first half where our speed of play slowed down. We weren’t winning 50-50 balls, it wasn’t looking good.”
Hillary Coleman went down early with an injury and Abigail Rosas missed the contest altogether.
Ysenia Rodriguez was coming off an illness as well, which left the defensive backfield without three starters.
But Amanda Porter moved back to sweeper from her normal position at center-midfield, and Jordan Nunes came off the bench to provide the backside help that Coenenberg needed.
Manteca ended up outshooting the Bullfrogs 12-7, and allowed just one harmless goal, late in the second half.
“Defensively, I thought we did a good job,” Coenenberg said. “We had some injuries to two of our starting defenders. Jordan Nunes and Amanda Porter did an excellent job filling in.”
After the break, Manteca came out firing on all cylinders, and put the game away at 4-0 before the 50th minute.
Munson added her second goal during the flurry, and Aireene Curry racked up two more scores of her own.
“After halftime, we came out and looked like a very good team,” Coenenberg said. “We were moving it much better, winning 50-50 balls, our through-balls looked good and created a couple of scoring opportunities.
“Scoring on four of 12 shots is pretty good. We’ve struggled in finishing, so it’s good to see that.”
Prior to Friday’s contest, Manteca had collected seven scores from seven different players.
With the win, Manteca moved on to today’s semifinal round.
Kickoff is scheduled for 9 a.m. against Pioneer.
If Manteca moves on, it will play for the title at 2 p.m.
Pleasant Grove 3, Weston Ranch 0
Weston Ranch dropped its first-round matchup Friday at the Buffalo Cup, allowing three Pleasant Grove of Elk Grove goals, all off of corner kicks.“Our defense played well again, they just got those corner kicks,” Cougars head coach Carlos Gaspar said.
Weston Ranch next faces Amador at 10:30 a.m. on the practice field.
Amador lost to Pitman Friday, 5-1.
Folsom Tournament
Sierra 2, Ponderosa 0
In Sacramento, the Timberwolves moved to 5-0-1 on the season behind a pair of first half goals.Sierra 2, Ponderosa 0
Stephanie Vanni assisted Michaela Scott in the 19th minute, and Nicole Vanni added a penalty kick score nine minutes later.
“We played pretty well,” Sierra head coach Manuel Pires said. “We held the ball well, and moved it around. We had some nice opportunities in the second half, but we couldn’t quite get through on them.”
Pires described Sierra’s defensive effort as rock solid.
“We didn’t allow them any looks,” he said.
Melissa Bennett, Rebecca Scott, Hannah Obanni and Jamie Huffman all played well in the backfield.
The T’Wolves lace them up this morning at 9 a.m. for a showdown with Bella Vista.
— Brandon Petersen
