By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
East Union pulls away
Rivera nets four goals during VOL win
SOCCER-EUvsSIERRA PIC3 for 4-11-14
East Unions Meghan Wallace gets after the ball and kicks it past Sierras Annisty Miller (20) during the Lancers 4-1 VOL victory at Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium on Thursday. - photo by JOHN-JOEL GRIFFITHS/The Bulletin

Isela Rivera fired the game-tying goal in the 38th minute with an angry blast from 20 yards away that knotted the game at one apiece Thursday night.

East Union’s 5-foot-1 senior handed the Lancers every ounce of momentum before the break, which carried into the second half where Rivera added three more scores during a 4-1 Valley Oak League victory against its cross-town rival Sierra at Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium.

“When I got that (equalizer), it was all anger and intensity,” said Rivera, who went on to net her fourth hat trick of the year. “That was to pick my team up and then we started playing like EU knows how.”

Sierra (5-3-1 VOL, 10-5-2 overall) standout Sydnee Canales handed her team a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute and the Timberwolves led for the next 30 minutes until Rivera knotted it.

Sierra’s sophomore keeper Emma Broderick finished with 16 saves and put forth a gutsy effort while the East Union (9-0, 11-0) front line kept her plenty busy.

“(Broderick) had her hands full,” Rivera added. “She’s a very good, young keeper. Good job to her she did great. But at the end of the day I made those last three goals to give us the win.”

Rivera’s first goal was assisted by her sister Ilena Rivera, and so was her second score in the 66th minute. Broderick made six of her 16 total saves in the second half while preserving the 1-1 tie before Rivera scored her 19th, 20th and 21st goals of the season in less than a 15-minute stretch to close the game.

Rivera could have made it 3-1 in the 71st minute and completed the hat trick, which would have been a third straight sister-to-sister assist. The score was called back for an offside.

Rivera was relentless up front, however, and got her hat trick in the 75th minute to make it 3-1 off an assist from Jenna Zuniga. The San Jose State University-bound senior then made up the final score in stoppage time off an assist from Marissa King.

“When Isela gets the ball, she knows what to do with the ball,” East Union head coach Victor Palanco said. “I knew she was going to do something (in the second half). Sometimes she looks tired, but I know she’s not tired she’s just waiting for her opportunity to put the ball in the net.”

East Union, which will play at home against Kimball Tuesday, outshot Sierra 14-1 in the second half and 9-1 in the first 40 minutes. Sierra will host Sonora Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

Manteca 12,
Weston Ranch 0

The Buffaloes (4-2-1, 11-3-1) led the Cougars 4-0 at the half and added eight more during the final 40 minutes. Ivy Benson netted a hat trick and Lejla Pepic, Fechi Nkwocha and Jasmine Basuil each scored two goals apiece. Harleen Pabla also tallied two scores and Natalia Duran rounded out the total.

Lathrop 2, Sonora 2

The Spartans (2-6-1, 5-12-1) led 2-0 at the break thanks to goals from Jasenya Barajas in the 10th minute and the other from Rose Becerra in the 32nd. Lathrop’s Nancy Ramos and Yaneli Avila registered assists for Lathrop, which will be at Manteca Tuesday.

Sophomore

East Union 2, Sierra 1

The Timberwolves’ Briana Oseguera netted her squad’s only goal against the Lancers, who scored the eventual game-winning goal in the second half.