The last time East Union faced Oakdale they tussled to a 1-1 draw.

That was during the second half of the Valley Oak League season in 2014 when the Lancers rolled to a 19-0-1 record and the school’s first Sac-Joaquin Section championship for girls soccer. The tie remains the lone “blemish” in East Union’s record under second-year head coach Victor Polanco, and another one nearly joined it Wednesday night.

The opponent? Oakdale.

Jenna Zuniga’s goal in the 72nd minute prevented a repeat as East Union escaped Mustang territory with a 3-2 triumph that keeps its perfect record in 2015 intact.

“They gave us a great game from the beginning to the end,” Polanco said of his team’s Wednesday night foil.

Zuniga combined hustle and skill to give the Lancers the lead for good, winning a 50-50 ball inside Oakdale’s 18 before gaining control of the ball and juking the keeper for an easy goal.

It was a back-and-forth struggle throughout. Talented striker Ilena Rivera punched in East Union’s first two goals, the first off a penalty kick after she absorbed a hard tackle inside the penalty area in the 24th minute. Oakdale tied it late in the first half.

In the 50th minute, Zuniga fed Rivera with a cross as the Lancers regained the lead. The Mustangs answered with another equalizer minutes later. Megan Burke and Madison Feurstein accounted for Oakdale’s goals.

The slugfest marked the first time all season that East Union was tested. It opened the campaign with a 3-0 win over Buhach Colony, and all matches that ensued were decided by wider margins.

Until Wednesday.

“Today we had a really good team in front of us,” Polanco said. “My girls are really hungry to win, but (the Mustangs) want to win too and they played ready to win. They were attacking us.”



Sierra 2, Kimball 2

Considering his team’s struggles with injuries, the windy conditions and the quick playing surface at Kimball, Sierra coach Manuel Pires will gladly take the tie.

The Timberwolves (1-4-1, 4-10-1) have had a rough go but for the first time this season they end a week without a loss. Marissa LaQuaglia opened scoring before Kimball answered with two straight for the lead. Briana Oseguera knotted it for good in the second half after Jasmine Loaiza had her initial shot deflected away.

“It was nice to get out of there with a point,” Pires said. “We’re always going for a win; getting three points would really get us back on track. We still have a long ways to go.”



Lathrop 2,
Weston Ranch 0

Jasenya Barajas scored in the eighth minute and set a school record with her sixth assist of the season in the 15th minute for Lathrop (1-5, 5-11-1), which snapped an eight-game slide. Rosa Becerra was on the other end of the assist. Nya Jones set up Barajas’ goal with a pass.

Cassandra Flores had four saves at goal.



Frosh-soph

East Union 5, Oakdale 1

Julia Villagon scored twice as the Lancers raced away for the win. Emma Ott and Skylar Treacy added one each.



Sierra 2, Kimball 0

Jenny Rivera netted two goals in a shutout victory. Daisy Valencia and Sarah Lenowitz doled out the assists.